A radiometric assay for aspartoacylase activity in cultured oligodendrocytes

Recent studies have shown that aspartoacylase (ASPA), the defective enzyme in Canavan disease, is detectable in the brain only in the oligodendrocytes. Studying the regulation of ASPA is central to the understanding the pathogenesis of Canavan disease and to the development of therapeutic strategies. Toward this goal, we have developed a sensitive method for the assay of ASPA in cultured oligodendrocytes. The method involves: (a) chemical synthesis of [14C]N-acetylaspartate (NAA) from L-[14C]Asp; (b) use of [14C]NAA as substrate in the assay; and (c) separation and quantitation of the product L-[14C]Asp using a TLC system. This method can detect as low as 10pmol of product and has been optimized for cultured oligodendrocytes. Thus, this method promises to be a valuable tool for understanding the biochemical mechanisms involved in the cell-specific expression and regulation of ASPA in oligodendrocytes.

Microtubule-associated protein 1B: a neuronal binding partner for myelin-associated glycoprotein

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) is expressed in periaxonal membranes of myelinating glia where it is believed to function in glia-axon interactions by binding to a component of the axolemma. Experiments involving Western blot overlay and coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated that MAG binds to a phosphorylated neuronal isoform of microtubule-associated protein 1B (MAP1B) expressed in dorsal root ganglion neurons (DRGNs) and axolemma-enriched fractions from myelinated axons of brain, but not to the isoform of MAP1B expressed by glial cells. The expression of some MAP1B as a neuronal plasma membrane glycoprotein (Tanner, S.L., R. Franzen, H. Jaffe, and R.H. Quarles. 2000. J. Neurochem. 75:553-562.), further documented here by its immunostaining without cell permeabilization, is consistent with it being a binding partner for MAG on the axonal surface. Binding sites for a MAG-Fc chimera on DRGNs colocalized with MAP1B on neuronal varicosities, and MAG and MAP1B also colocalized in the periaxonal region of myelinated axons. In addition, expression of the phosphorylated isoform of MAP1B was increased significantly when DRGNs were cocultured with MAG-transfected COS cells. The interaction of MAG with MAP1B is relevant to the known role of MAG in affecting the cytoskeletal structure and stability of myelinated axons.

Myosin-I nomenclature

We suggest that the vertebrate myosin-I field adopt a common nomenclature system based on the names adopted by the Human Genome Organization (HUGO). At present, the myosin-I nomenclature is very confusing; not only are several systems in use, but several different genes have been given the same name. Despite their faults, we believe that the names adopted by the HUGO nomenclature group for genome annotation are the best compromise, and we recommend universal adoption.

Myosin Va bound to phagosomes binds to F-actin and delays microtubule-dependent motility

We established a light microscopy-based assay that reconstitutes the binding of phagosomes purified from mouse macrophages to preassembled F-actin in vitro. Both endogenous myosin Va from mouse macrophages and exogenous myosin Va from chicken brain stimulated the phagosome-F-actin interaction. Myosin Va association with phagosomes correlated with their ability to bind F-actin in an ATP-regulated manner and antibodies to myosin Va specifically blocked the ATP-sensitive phagosome binding to F-actin. The uptake and retrograde transport of phagosomes from the periphery to the center of cells in bone marrow macrophages was observed in both normal mice and mice homozygous for the dilute-lethal spontaneous mutation (myosin Va null). However, in dilute-lethal macrophages the accumulation of phagosomes in the perinuclear region occurred twofold faster than in normal macrophages. Motion analysis revealed saltatory phagosome movement with temporarily reversed direction in normal macrophages, whereas almost no reversals in direction were observed in dilute-lethal macrophages. These observations demonstrate that myosin Va mediates phagosome binding to F-actin, resulting in a delay in microtubule-dependent retrograde phagosome movement toward the cell center. We propose an "antagonistic/cooperative mechanism" to explain the saltatory phagosome movement toward the cell center in normal macrophages.

Microscale Adaptive Optics: Wave-Front Control with a mu-Mirror Array and a VLSI Stochastic Gradient Descent Controller

The performance of adaptive systems that consist of microscale on-chip elements [microelectromechanical mirror (mu-mirror) arrays and a VLSI stochastic gradient descent microelectronic control system] is analyzed. The mu-mirror arrays with 5 x 5 and 6 x 6 actuators were driven with a control system composed of two mixed-mode VLSI chips implementing model-free beam-quality metric optimization by the stochastic parallel perturbative gradient descent technique. The adaptation rate achieved was near 6000 iterations/s. A secondary (learning) feedback loop was used to control system parameters during the adaptation process, further increasing the adaptation rate.

Rab27a enables myosin Va-dependent melanosome capture by recruiting the myosin to the organelle

The peripheral accumulation of melanosomes characteristic of wild-type mouse melanocytes is driven by a cooperative process involving long-range, bidirectional, microtubule-dependent movements coupled to capture and local movement in the actin-rich periphery by myosin Va, the product of the dilute locus. Genetic evidence suggests that Rab27a, the product of the ashen locus, functions with myosin Va in this process. Here we show that ashen melanocytes, like dilute melanocytes, exhibit normal dendritic morphology and melanosome biogenesis, an abnormal accumulation of end-stage melanosomes in the cell center, and rapid, bidirectional, microtubule-dependent melanosome movements between the cell center and the periphery. This phenotype suggests that ashen melanocytes, like dilute melanocytes, are defective in peripheral melanosome capture. Consistent with this, introduction into ashen melanocytes of cDNAs encoding wild-type and GTP-bound versions of Rab27a restores the peripheral accumulation of melanosomes in a microtubule-dependent manner. Conversely, introduction into wild-type melanocytes of the GDP-bound version of Rab27a generates an ashen/dilute phenotype. Rab27a colocalizes with end-stage melanosomes in wild-type cells, and is most concentrated in melanosome-rich dendritic tips, where it also colocalizes with myosin Va. Finally, neither endogenous myosin Va nor an expressed, GFP-tagged, myosin Va tail domain fusion protein colocalize with melanosomes in ashen melanocytes, in contrast to that seen previously in wild-type cells. These results argue that Rab27a serves to enable the myosinVa-dependent capture of melanosomes delivered to the periphery by bidirectional, microtubule-dependent transport, and that it does so by recruiting the myosin to the melanosome surface. We suggest that Rab27a, in its GTP-bound and melanosome-associated form, predominates in the periphery, and that it is this form that recruits the myosin, enabling capture. These results argue that Rab27a serves as a myosin Va ‘receptor’, and add to the growing evidence that Rab GTPases regulate vesicle motors as well as SNARE pairing.

Differences in signal transduction pathways by which platelet-derived and fibroblast growth factors activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase in differentiating oligodendrocytes

Treatment of cultured rat oligodendroglial progenitors with either platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) or fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) activated extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (ERK2). Activation was transient in response to PDGF, whereas it was greater and more prolonged in response to FGF-2. ERK2 activation by PDGF was preceded by a very rapid, robust and transient tyrosine phosphorylation of the PDGF receptor. Although there was consistently more activation of ERK2 in response to FGF-2 than to PDGF, immunostaining of FGF receptors 1 (FGFR1) and 2 (FGFR2) and their tyrosine phosphorylation in progenitors was very weak, and both receptors were up-regulated during differentiation to oligodendrocytes. Tyrosine phosphorylation of the FGF receptors was maximal from 15 to 60 min of treatment and was sustained for many hours. Binding of radioiodinated FGF-2 to FGFR1 was predominant in progenitors, whereas binding to FGFR2 was predominant in oligodendrocytes. ERK2 activation by PDGF was more sensitive to inhibition of tyrosine kinases, whereas ERK2 activation by FGF-2 was relatively more sensitive to inhibitors of protein kinase C. These differences in signal transduction pathways probably contribute to the different cellular responses of oligodendroglial lineage cells to PDGF and FGF-2, respectively.

Making sense of melanosome dynamics in mouse melanocytes

Molecular motors drive most if not all organelle movements in Eukaryotic cells. These proteins are thought to bind to the organelle surface and, through the action of their mechanochemical domains, to translocate the organelle along a cytoskeletal track. In the case of the myosin family of molecular motors, the cytoskeletal track is filamentous actin. Microtubules serve as the cytoskeletal track for the kinesins and dyneins. While a considerable amount is known about the motors and tracks responsible for the bi-directional movement of pigment granules in fish and frog melanophores, relatively little is known about how melanosomes in mammalian melanocytes are transported out the cells dendritic arbor, accumulated at the ends of these dendrites, and transferred to keratinocytes. In this short review, we focus on the use of video microscopy to address these questions in mouse melanocytes, and we describe how an analysis of melanosome dynamics within wild type and dilute melanocytes shaped our thinking regarding the role of an unconventional myosin in melanosome transport and distribution.

Myosin Va associates with microtubule-rich domains in both interphase and dividing cells

Class V unconventional myosins are two-headed, nonfilamentous, actin-based mechanoenzymes that appear to be expressed ubiquitously. Mice possess at least two myosin V heavy chain genes (dilute and myr6) whose approximately 190 kDa protein products are referred to as myosin Va and Vb, respectively. Using antibodies that are specific for the Va isoform and immunofluorescence microscopy, we show here that myosin Va localizes to the microtubule organizing center (MTOC) in interphase cells, and to the mitotic asters, spindle, and midbody of dividing cells. These associations, which in the case of mitotic cells are characterized by the concentration of myosin Va in the immediate vicinity of the microtubules, were observed in a variety of cell types, including primary and immortal mouse melanocytes and fibroblasts, Hela cells, and Cos cells. Importantly, these associations were not observed in melanocytes and fibroblasts cultured from dilute null mice, indicating that the staining of these microtubule-rich domains was due to the presence of myosin Va, as opposed to another protein(s) containing a shared epitope(s) with myosin Va. When cells were extracted with detergent prior to fixation, myosin Va remained associated with each of these microtubule-rich domains, suggesting that these associations are not due to the possible presence of membranes at these sites. This fact, and our observation that these microtubule-rich domains contain little if any F-actin (based on phalloidin staining), suggest that myosin Va may bind to microtubules either directly or through a microtubule-associated protein. Finally, we found that dilute null fibroblasts in primary culture are twice as likely to be binucleate as wild type fibroblasts of the same genetic background (35% vs. 17%). Together, these results indicate that myosin Va associates with microtubule-rich domains in both interphase and dividing cells, and plays a role in the efficiency of cell division in culture.

Two-headed binding of a processive myosin to F-actin

Myosins are motor proteins in cells. They move along actin by changing shape after making stereospecific interactions with the actin subunits. As these are arranged helically, a succession of steps will follow a helical path. However, if the myosin heads are long enough to span the actin helical repeat (approximately 36 nm), linear motion is possible. Muscle myosin (myosin II) heads are about 16 nm long, which is insufficient to span the repeat. Myosin V, however, has heads of about 31 nm that could span 36 nm and thus allow single two-headed molecules to transport cargo by walking straight. Here we use electron microscopy to show that while working, myosin V spans the helical repeat. The heads are mostly 13 actin subunits apart, with values of 11 or 15 also found. Typically the structure is polar and one head is curved, the other straighter. Single particle processing reveals the polarity of the underlying actin filament, showing that the curved head is the leading one. The shape of the leading head may correspond to the beginning of the working stroke of the motor. We also observe molecules attached by one head in this conformation.

Effect of ADP and ionic strength on the kinetic and motile properties of recombinant mouse myosin V

Mouse myosin V is a two-headed unconventional myosin with an extended neck that binds six calmodulins. Double-headed (heavy meromyosin-like) and single-headed (subfragment 1-like) fragments of mouse myosin V were expressed in Sf9 cells, and intact myosin V was purified from mouse brain. The actin-activated MgATPase of the tissue-purified myosin V, and its expressed fragments had a high V(max) and a low K(ATPase). Calcium regulated the MgATPase of intact myosin V but not of the fragments. Both the MgATPase activity and the in vitro motility were remarkably insensitive to ionic strength. Myosin V and its fragments translocated actin at very low myosin surface densities. ADP markedly inhibited the actin-activated MgATPase activity and the in vitro motility. ADP dissociated from myosin V subfragment 1 at a rate of about 11.5 s(-1) under conditions where the V(max) was 3.3 s(-1), indicating that, although not totally rate-limiting, ADP dissociation was close to the rate-limiting step. The high affinity for actin and the slow rate of ADP release helps the myosin head to remain attached to actin for a large fraction of each ATPase cycle and allows actin filaments to be moved by only a few myosin V molecules in vitro.

Functions of unconventional myosins

To date, fourteen classes of unconventional myosins have been identified. Recent reports have implicated a number of these myosins in organelle transport, and in the formation, maintenance and/or dynamics of actin-rich structures involved in a variety of cellular processes including endocytosis, cell migration, and sensory transduction. Characterizations of organelle dynamics in pigment cells and neurons have further defined the contributions made by unconventional myosins and microtubule motors to the transport and distribution of organelles. Several studies have provided evidence of complexes through which cooperative organelle transport may be coordinated. Finally, the myosin superfamily has been shown to contain at least one processive motor and one backwards motor.

Flexibility of Acanthamoeba myosin rod minifilaments

Previous electric birefringence experiments have shown that the actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity of Acanthamoeba myosin II correlates with the ability of minifilaments to cycle between flexible and stiff conformations. The cooperative transition between conformations was shown to depend on Mg2+ concentration, on ATP binding, and on the state of phosphorylation of three serines in the C-terminal end of the heavy chains. Since the junction between the heavy meromyosin (HMM) and light meromyosin (LMM) regions is expected to disrupt the alpha-helical coiled-coil structure of the rod, this region was anticipated to be the flexible site. We have now cloned and expressed the wild-type rod (residues 849-1509 of the full-length heavy chain) and rods mutated within the junction in order to test this. The sedimentation and electric birefringence properties of minifilaments formed by rods and by native myosin II are strikingly similar. In particular, the Mg2+-dependent flexible-to-stiff transitions of native myosin II and wild-type rod minifilaments are virtually superimposable. Mutations within the junction between the HMM and LMM regions of the rod modulate the ability of Mg2+ to stabilize the stiff conformation. Less Mg2+ is required to induce minifilament stiffening if proline-1244 is replaced with alanine. Deleting the entire junction region (25 amino acids) results in a even greater decrease in the Mg2+ concentration necessary for the transition. The HMM-LMM junction does indeed seem to act as a Mg2+-dependent flexible hinge.

Analysis of the regulatory phosphorylation site in Acanthamoeba myosin IC by using site-directed mutagenesis

The actin-activated ATPase activity of Acanthamoeba myosin IC is stimulated 15- to 20-fold by phosphorylation of Ser-329 in the heavy chain. In most myosins, either glutamate or aspartate occupies this position, which lies within a surface loop that forms part of the actomyosin interface. To investigate the apparent need for a negative charge at this site, we mutated Ser-329 to alanine, asparagine, aspartate, or glutamate and coexpressed the Flag-tagged wild-type or mutant heavy chain and light chain in baculovirus-infected insect cells. Recombinant wild-type myosin IC was indistinguishable from myosin IC purified from Acanthamoeba as determined by (i) the dependence of its actin-activated ATPase activity on heavy-chain phosphorylation, (ii) the unusual triphasic dependence of its ATPase activity on the concentration of F-actin, (iii) its Km for ATP, and (iv) its ability to translocate actin filaments. The Ala and Asn mutants had the same low actin-activated ATPase activity as unphosphorylated wild-type myosin IC. The Glu mutant, like the phosphorylated wild-type protein, was 16-fold more active than unphosphorylated wild type, and the Asp mutant was 8-fold more active. The wild-type and mutant proteins had the same Km for ATP. Unphosphorylated wild-type protein and the Ala and Asn mutants were unable to translocate actin filaments, whereas the Glu mutant translocated filaments at the same velocity, and the Asp mutant at 50% the velocity, as phosphorylated wild-type proteins. These results demonstrate that an acidic amino acid can supply the negative charge in the surface loop required for the actin-dependent activities of Acanthamoeba myosin IC in vitro and indicate that the length of the side chain that delivers this charge is important.

Structural invariance of constitutively active and inactive mutants of acanthamoeba myosin IC bound to F-actin in the rigor and ADP-bound states

The three single-headed monomeric myosin I isozymes of Acanthamoeba castellanii (AMIs)-AMIA, AMIB, and AMIC-are among the best-studied of all myosins. We have used AMIC to study structural correlates of myosin's actin-activated ATPase. This activity is normally controlled by phosphorylation of Ser-329, but AMIC may be switched into constitutively active or inactive states by substituting this residue with Glu or Ala, respectively. To determine whether activation status is reflected in structural differences in the mode of attachment of myosin to actin, these mutant myosins were bound to actin filaments in the absence of nucleotide (rigor state) and visualized at 24-A resolution by using cryoelectron microscopy and image reconstruction. No such difference was observed. Consequently, we suggest that regulation may be affected not by altering the static (time-averaged) structure of AMIC but by modulating its dynamic properties, i.e., molecular breathing. The tail domain of vertebrate intestinal brush-border myosin I has been observed to swing through 31 degrees on binding of ADP. However, it was predicted on grounds of differing kinetics that any such effects with AMIC should be small [Jontes, J. D., Ostap, E. M., Pollard, T. D. & Milligan, R. A. (1998) J. Cell Biol. 141, 155-162]. We have confirmed this hypothesis by observing actin-associated AMIC in its ADP-bound state. Finally, we compared AMIC to brush-border myosin I and AMIB, which were previously studied under similar conditions. In each case, the shape and angle of attachment to F-actin of the catalytic domain is largely conserved, but the domain structure and disposition of the tail is distinctively different for each myosin.

The predominant defect in dilute melanocytes is in melanosome distribution and not cell shape, supporting a role for myosin V in melanosome transport

Mice with mutations at the dilute locus, which encodes the heavy chain of a type V unconventional myosin, exhibit a reduction in coat colour intensity. This defect is thought to be caused by the absence in dilute melanocytes of the extensive dendritic arbor through which these cells normally deliver pigment-laden melanosomes to keratinocytes. The data on which this conclusion has been based can also be explained, however, by a defect in the outward transport of melanosomes within melanocytes of normal shape. To resolve this question, we compared the shape and pigment distribution within melanocytes present in primary cultures prepared from the epidermis of C57BL/6J pups that were either wild type (D/D) at dilute or homozygous for the dilute null allele d120J. These same comparisons were also performed on melanocytes in situ, where antibodies to the membrane tyrosine kinase receptor cKIT were used to visualize melanocyte cell shape independent of pigment distribution. Wild type melanocytes were found to be dendritic and to have melanosomes distributed throughout their dendrites both in vitro and in situ. Mutant melanocytes were also found to be dendritic in both cases, but their melanosomes were highly concentrated in the cell body and largely excluded from dendrites. We conclude, therefore, that the predominant defect in dilute melanocytes is in melanosome distribution, not cell shape. These results argue that the myosin V isoform encoded by the dilute locus functions in dendritic extensions to move melanosomes from their site of formation within the cell body to their site of intercellular transfer at dendritic tips. This conclusion is consistent with our recent demonstration by immunolocalization that the dilute myosin V isoform associates with melanosomes in mouse melanocytes.

Two-state thermal unfolding of a long dimeric coiled-coil: the Acanthamoeba myosin II rod

Acanthamoeba myosin II rod is a long alpha-helical coiled-coil with a flexible hinge containing a helix-breaking proline. The thermal stability of the complete rod domain of myosin II (residues 849-1509), a mutant in which the hinge proline was replaced by alanine (P398A), and a mutant with the whole hinge region deleted (delta(384-408)) was studied in 0.6 and 2.2 M KCl, pH 7.5. In analytical ultracentrifugation studies, the purified myosin II rods sedimented as monodisperse dimers with sedimentation coefficients s(20,w) = 3.8 S (wild-type, Mr = 149,000) and 3.6 S (P398A and delta(384-408)). Circular dichroism (CD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the thermal unfolding of the myosin II rod is reversible and highly cooperative. The unfolding of the rod is coupled to a dissociation of the chains, as shown by HPLC gel filtration at high temperatures and by the concentration dependence of the transition temperature. The CD and DSC data are consistent with a two-state mechanism (Tm approximately 40 degrees C, deltaH approximately 400 kcal/mol) in which the dimeric rod unfolds with concomitant formation of two unfolded monomers. We found no evidence for independent unfolding of the two rod domains that are separated by the hinge region. The only difference observed in the unfolding of the mutant rods from that of the wild type was a approximately 2 degrees C increase in the thermal stability of the hinge-deletion mutant. Thus, the mechanism of unfolding the Acanthamoeba myosin II rod is different from those of skeletal muscle myosin rod and tropomyosin, for which non-two-state thermal transitions have been observed. The cooperative unfolding of the entire coiled-coil rod of Acanthamoeba myosin II may underlie the previously reported regulatory coupling between its N-terminal head and C-terminal tail.

The amino acid sequence of the light chain of Acanthamoeba myosin IC

The amino acid sequence of the light chain of Acanthamoeba myosin IC deduced from the cDNA sequence comprises 149 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 16,739. All but the 3 N-terminal residues were also determined by amino acid sequencing of the purified protein, which also showed the N-terminus to be blocked. Phylogenetic analysis shows Acanthamoeba myosin IC light chain to be more similar to the calmodulin subfamily of EF-hand calcium-modulated proteins than to the myosin II essential light chain or regulatory light chain subfamilies. In pairwise comparisons, the myosin IC light chain sequence is most similar to sequences of calmodulins (approximately 50% identical) and a squid calcium-binding protein (approximately 43% identical); the sequence is approximately 37% identical to the calcium-binding essential light chain of Physarum myosin II and approximately 30% identical to the essential light chain of Acanthamoeba myosin II, and the essential light chain and regulatory light chain of Dictyostelium myosin II. The sequence predicts four helix-loop-helix domains with possible calcium-binding sites in domains I and III, suggesting that calcium may affect the activity of this unconventional myosin. This is the first report of the sequence of an unconventional myosin light chain other than calmodulin.

Myosin V associates with melanosomes in mouse melanocytes: evidence that myosin V is an organelle motor

Mice with mutations at the dilute locus exhibit a ‘washed out’ or ‘diluted’ coat color. The pigments that are responsible for the coloration of mammalian hair are produced by melanocytes within a specialized organelle, the melanosome. Each melanocyte is responsible for delivering melanosomes via its extensive dendritic arbor to numerous keratinocytes, which go on to form the pigmented hair shaft. In this study, we show by light immunofluorescence microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy that the myosin V isoform encoded by the dilute locus associates with melanosomes. This association, which was seen in all mouse melanocyte cell lines examined and with two independent myosin V antibodies, was evident not only within completely melanized cells, but also within cells undergoing the process of melanosome biogenesis, where coordinate changes in the distributions of a melanosome marker and myosin V were seen. To determine where myosin V, a known actin-based motor, might play a role in melanosome transport, we also examined the cellular distribution of F-actin. The only region where myosin V and F-actin were both concentrated was in dendrites and dendritic tips, which represent the sole destination for melanosomes and where they accumulate in cultured melanocytes. These results support the idea that myosin V serves as the motor for the outward movement of melanosomes within dendritic extensions, and, together with the available information regarding the phenotype of mutant melanocytes in vitro, argue that coat color dilution is caused by the absense of this myosin V-dependent melanosome transport system.

Localization of Dictyostelium myoB and myoD to filopodia and cell-cell contact sites using isoform-specific antibodies

To date, five myosin I heavy chain genes (myoA-E) have been sequenced in Dictyostelium. Among them, myoB, myoC and myoD possess tail domains that contain a putative membrane-binding domain, a nucleotide-insensitive actin-binding site, and an src homology (SH)-3 domain. In this study, we have determined the intracellular localizations of myoB and myoD by immunofluorescence using isoform-specific antibodies raised against bacterially expressed fusion proteins. MyoB is concentrated at the leading edges of lamellipodia and at sites of cell-cell contact in both stationary and aggregation stage cells. Based on its distinctive appearance, we have named the myosin I-rich, interdigitating cell-cell contact structure in the stationary stage cells "zipper". To analyze the staining of filopodia, we employed the ratio imaging technique. We find that myoB is present in filopodia in either a uniform or an apical staining pattern. Like myoB, myoD is concentrated in leading edges of lamellipodia and at sites of cell-cell contact in stationary stage cells. MyoD is also present in filopodia, although the intensity is weaker than that of myoB staining. Despite persistence of myoD protein in the cells, myoD largely disappears from lamellipodia and cell-cell contact regions in aggregation stage cells, suggesting the occurrence of a developmentally regulated relocalization to the cytoplasm. While these results, along with the striking similarity in their tail domain structures, suggest that myoB and myoD have overlapping functions, differences in their localization in developing cells indicate that they have unique functions as well.

Structural change of the endoplasmic reticulum during fertilization: evidence for loss of membrane continuity using the green fluorescent protein

Green fluorescent protein (GFP) was targeted to the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of starfish eggs by injecting mRNA coding for a chimeric protein containing a signal sequence and the KDEL ER retention sequence. By confocal microscopy, the GFP chimeric protein was localized in intracellular cisternae (membrane sheets) and the nuclear envelope, showing that it had been successfully targeted to the ER. The labeling pattern closely resembled that produced by the fluorescent dicarbocyanine DiI, which has been used previously to label the ER (Jaffe and Terasaki, Dev. Biol. 164, 579-587, 1994). Eggs expressing the GFP chimera were used to examine whether there is a loss of ER continuity at fertilization. The time required for recovery of fluorescence after photobleaching for both the GFP chimera and DiI was much longer in eggs at 1 min postfertilization than in unfertilized eggs or in 20-min-postfertilized eggs. This result provides strong evidence for a transient loss of continuity of the ER associated with Ca release at fertilization.

Dictyostelium mutants lacking multiple classic myosin I isoforms reveal combinations of shared and distinct functions

Dictyostelium cells that lack the myoB isoform were previously shown to exhibit reduced efficiencies of phagocytosis and chemotactic aggregation ("streaming") and to crawl at about half the speed of wild-type cells. Of the four other Dictyostelium myosin I isoforms identified to date, myoC and myoD are the most similar to myoB in terms of tail domain sequence. Furthermore, we show here that myoC, like myoB and myoD, is concentrated in actin-rich cortical regions like the leading edge of migrating cells. To look for evidence of functional overlap between these isoforms, we analyzed myoB, myoC, and myoD single mutants, myoB/myoD double mutants, and myoB/myoC/myoD triple mutants, which were created using a combination of gene targeting techniques and constitutive expression of antisense RNA. With regard to the speed of locomoting, aggregation-stage cells, of the three single mutants, only the myoB mutant was significantly slower. Moreover, double and triple mutants were only slightly slower than the myoB single mutant. Consistent with this, the protein level of myoB alone rises dramatically during early development, suggesting that a special demand is placed on this one isoform when cells become highly motile. We also found, however, that the absolute amount of myoB protein in aggregation-stage cells is much higher than that for myoC and myoD, suggesting that what appears to be a case of nonoverlapping function could be the result of large differences in the amounts of functionally overlapping isoforms. Streaming assays also suggest that myoC plays a significant role in some aspect of motility other than cell speed. With regard to phagocytosis, both myoB and myoC single mutants exhibited significant reductions in initial rate, suggesting that these two isoforms perform nonredundant roles in supporting the phagocytic process. In triple mutants these defects were not additive, however. Finally, because double and triple mutants exhibited significant and progressive decreases in doubling times, we also measured the kinetics of fluid phase endocytic flux (uptake, transit time, efflux). Not only do all three isoforms contribute to this process, but their contributions are synergistic. While these results, when taken together, refute the simple notion that these three "classic" myosin I isoforms perform exclusively identical functions, they do reveal that all three share in supporting at least one cellular process (endocytosis), and they identify several other processes (motility, streaming, and phagocytosis) that are supported to a significant extent by either individual isoforms or various combinations of them.

The sequence of the dictyostelium myo J heavy chain gene predicts a novel, dimeric, unconventional myosin with a heavy chain molecular mass of 258 kDa

The complete sequence of the Dictyostelium myo J heavy chain gene has been determined from overlapping genomic clones. The gene spans approximately 7400 base pairs, is split by two small introns, and encodes a 2241-residue, 258-kDa heavy chain polypeptide that that is composed of an N-terminal 944-residue myosin head domain, a central 863-residue domain that is predicted to form an alpha helical coiled-coil containing six hinges, and a C-terminal 434-residue globular domain. The head domain is notable in that it contains a approximately 30 residue insert near the nucleotide binding pocket, and five potential calmodulin/myosin light chain binding sites at the head/tail junction. The existence within the Myo J tail domain of both an extensive coiled-coil structure and a large globular domain suggests that this myosin is dimeric and incapable of self-assembly into filaments. While these properties, as well as the overall predicted structure of the Myo J protein, are reminiscent of class V myosins, the sequence of the 434-residue globular tail piece of Myo J shows no similarity to that of either yeast or vertebrate myosins V. Consistent with this, phylogenetic analyses based on myosin head sequence comparisons do not classify Myo J as a type V myosin. These and other sequence comparisons indicate that Myo J and two as-yet-unclassified unconventional myosins from Arabidopsis represent members of the newest class within the myosin superfamily (class XI). Northern blots analyses suggest that Myo J may function predominantly in vegetative Dictyostelium cells. Finally, Southern blot analyses suggest that Dictyostelium possesses another myosin that is very closely related to Myo J.

Differentiation of oligodendrocytes cultured from developing rat brain is enhanced by exogenous GM3 ganglioside

Cultures consisting primarily of O-2A progenitor cells and immature oligodendrocytes with a few microglia and astrocytes were obtained by shaking primary cultures from neonatal rat brain after 12-14 days in vitro. Addition of 50 micrograms/ml exogenous Neu-NAc alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1'ceramide (GM3 ganglioside) to the cultures resulted in an increase in the number and thickness of cell processes that stained intensely for sulfatide and galactocerebroside (galC) in comparison to control cultures without added GM3. The treated cultures also contained fewer astrocytes than control cultures as revealed by immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Cells that immunostained for both GFAP and sulfatide/galC were very rare in control cultures but were frequently seen in the GM3-treated cultures, suggesting that these may represent cells changing their direction of differentiation away from type II astrocytes toward oligodendrocytes under the influence of GM3. These effects on the developing rat oligodendrocytes were specific for GM3 ganglioside and were not produced by adding GM1, GM2, GD3, or GD1a to the cultures. Lactosyl ceramide and neuraminyl lactose were also ineffective. When control cultures were initially plated on polylysine and incubated with [14C]galactose, GD3 was the principal labeled ganglioside. However, as the control cells differentiated over time in culture without the addition of exogenous GM3 and produced increasing amounts of myelin-related components, the incorporation of [14C]galactose into endogenous GM3 increased to become the predominant labeled ganglioside by 6 days after plating. Metabolic labeling of the GM3-treated oligodendrocytes with [14C]galactose revealed increased incorporation into galC and sulfatide in comparison to control cultures, but a decreased labeling of endogenous GM3. Similarly, incorporation of an amino acid precursor into the myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) was increased by GM3 treatment, but incorporation into myelin basic protein (MBP) was not affected. Although the overall effect of added GM3 was to decrease the phosphorylation of most proteins in the oligodendrocytes, including MBP, GM3 enhanced the phosphorylation of MAG. These findings indicate that GM3 ganglioside has an important role in the differentiation of cells of the O-2A lineage toward myelin production, since differentiation is associated with increased metabolic labeling of endogenous GM3 in control cultures and is enhanced by the addition of exogenous GM3.

The actin binding site in the tail domain of Dictyostelium myosin IC (myoC) resides within the glycine- and proline-rich sequence (tail homology region 2)

The majority of protozoan myosins I possess tail domains composed of three distinct and conserved regions of sequence, referred to as tail homology regions 1, 2 and 3 (TH.1, TH.2 and TH.3). While the N-terminal approximately half of the tail (corresponding to TH.1) has been implicated in membrane binding, all or some portion of the C-terminal approximately half of the tail (corresponding to TH.2 plus TH.3) has been implicated in binding to F-actin in a nucleotide-insensitive fashion. Here we show, using fusion proteins containing portions of the Dictyostelium myosin IC (myoC) tail domain and F-actin sedimentation assays, that the ability of the myoC tail to bind to actin resides entirely within the glycine- and proline-rich TH.2 domain. The src-like TH.3 domain does not bind to actin, nor does it augment the binding properties of the TH.2 domain. In addition to defining more precisely the location of the actin binding site in the tail domain of a protozoan myosin I, these results have implications for the function of the src-like TH.3 domain in myosins I and other proteins.

Immunoreactivity of PMP-22, P0, and other 19 to 28 kDa glycoproteins in peripheral nerve myelin of mammals and fish with HNK1 and related antibodies

Mammalian peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin contains several glycoproteins with molecular weights of 19 to 28 kDa, including the major 28 kDa P0 glycoprotein and a recently cloned protein called PMP-22. Some glycoproteins in this M(r) range in humans, cats and some other mammals react with HNK1, a mouse monoclonal antibody that identifies a carbohydrate epitope shared between the immune system and a number of adhesion proteins in the nervous system. A variety of antibodies to P0, PMP-22, and the carbohydrate determinants reacting with HNK1 were used to characterize immunochemically these 19 to 28 kDa glycoproteins of cat PNS myelin. The HNK1-reactive components include P0 and two slightly smaller 23 to 26 kDa proteins that are immunologically related to P0. However, HNK1 reacts most strongly with a lower molecular weight glycoprotein that does not react with the antibodies to P0 and was identified as PMP-22. Since the carbohydrate structure reacting with HNK1 is generally expressed on adhesion molecules, this result suggests that PMP-22 may function in cell-cell or membrane-membrane interactions. Furthermore, the related human anti-MAG monoclonal IgM antibodies from patients with neuropathy also react strongly with PMP-22, suggesting that it may be a target antigen in the pathogenesis of this disease. Purified PNS and CNS myelin from bony fish (toadfish and trout) were also shown to contain major glycoproteins, in the same 19 to 28 kDa M(r) range, that react very strongly with HNK1. It is shown that fish myelin has major proteins of this size that are immunologically and structurally related to mammalian P0, and it is demonstrated here that one of the strongly HNK1-positive proteins reacted well with an antiserum raised to bovine P0. The presence of high levels of the adhesion-related HNK1 epitope on these major myelin proteins of fish suggests that this carbohydrate structure may have played a role in the molecular evolution of myelin.

Sequence, expression pattern, intracellular localization, and targeted disruption of the Dictyostelium myosin ID heavy chain isoform

The complete sequence of the Dictyostelium myosin ID (DMID) heavy chain isoform has been determined from cDNA and genomic clones. Like the DMIB isoform characterized previously, the DMID isoform is up-regulated during starvation-induced chemotactic aggregation, and its 124-kDa heavy chain contains the tail domain sequences that correspond to both the membrane and second actin-binding sites. An antibody that is specific for the DMID isoform was found to stain the actin-rich pseudopods at the leading edge of migrating cells. Protein microsequencing data reveals that the myosin I isoform localized to leading edge pseudopods in a previous study (Fukui, Y., Lynch, T. J., Brzeska, H., and Korn, E. D. (1989) Nature 341, 328-331) was DMIB, indicating that DMID and DMIB also colocalize and that both should influence the dynamics of actin-rich cortical structures. This and other data indicate that the DMID and DMIB isoforms are closely related and are distinct from the DMIA and DMIE isoforms, which possess truncated tail domains and are not up-regulated during chemotactic aggregation. Cells in which the DMID gene was rendered nonfunctional by targeted gene disruption do not show obvious behavioral defects, suggesting that another myosin I isoform(s) (possibly DMIB) might compensate for DMID. Finally, Southern blot data indicate that Dictyostelium may contain as many as nine myosin I isoforms.

The Dictyostelium myosin IE heavy chain gene encodes a truncated isoform that lacks sequences corresponding to the actin binding site in the tail

We have isolated cDNA and genomic clones which together span the entire coding sequence for the 114.8 kDa heavy chain of Dictyostelium myosin IE (DMIE). The deduced primary sequence reveals a pattern characteristic of all myosins I, i.e., a myosin-like globular head domain fused to a tail domain that shows no similarity to the coiled-coil rod-like tail of type II myosins. The approx. 35 kDa tail domain of DMIE shows some sequence similarity to the membrane interaction region of other myosins I (tail-homology-region 1; TH-1), but lacks completely the sequences that correspond to the second actin binding site (the glycine-, proline- and alanine-rich TH-2 region and the src-like TH-3 region). Therefore, DMIE more closely resembles DMIA (Titus et al. (1989) Cell Regul 1, 55-63), which is also truncated, than DMIB and DMID, both of which possess all three tail homology regions. The similarity between the DMIE and DMIA isoforms extends to their pattern of expression, in which the steady state level of transcript for both genes is highest in vegetative cells and falls gradually after five to ten hours of starvation-induced development. Together, these results have important implications for interpreting and prioritizing gene targeting experiments designed to identify the functions of myosins I in vivo.

Exogenous GM3 ganglioside stimulates process formation and glycoprotein release by cultured bovine oligodendrocytes

Isolated adult bovine oligodendrocytes maintained in vitro for 10 days were treated for 1 day with 50 micrograms/ml of GM3 ganglioside (NeuNac alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1'ceramide) in serum-free culture medium. The treated oligodendrocytes had significantly longer processes with more branching than control cells in the same medium without GM3. The treatment also stimulated the release of a series of 22-100-kDa, [3H]glucosamine-labeled glycoproteins into the culture medium. Treatment of oligodendrocytes maintained in vitro for 50 days with GM3 for 1 day resulted in a thickening of the processes and the appearance of many fine branches on existing processes as well as a similar stimulation of glycoprotein release into the medium.

Novel myosins

The traditional view of myosin, drawn from studies of myosins from striated muscles, is that of an elongated two-headed molecule that assembles into filaments. However, biochemical, molecular genetic and genetic studies have uncovered a host of ubiquitous single-headed nonfilamentous myosins known collectively as myosins I. All of the myosins I possess the myosin head domain, the motor portion of muscle myosins they have tail the filament-forming tail domain of muscle myosins they have tail domains that interact variously with membranes, actin and calmodulin. These alternative molecular interactions confer novel motile properties on myosins I, such as the ability to move membranes relative to actin and to move actin relative to actin without having to assemble into filaments. The numerous actin-based movements retained by cells lacking myosin II, the two-headed filamentous form of nonmuscle myosin, may be supported by myosins I.

Molecular cloning of protozoan myosin I heavy chain genes

Myosins I are ubiquitous, nonfilamentous, actin-based mechanoenzymes originally discovered in protozoa. The extensive in vitro biochemical studies of purified protozoan myosins I are now being complemented with in vivo studies using cloned myosin I heavy chain genes and gene targeting techniques. Here we review briefly the systems and methods being used in these efforts to dissect protozoan myosin I structure and function using molecular genetic approaches.

Myosin IB null mutants of Dictyostelium exhibit abnormalities in motility

Cellular and intracellular motility are compared between normal Dictyostelium amoebae and amoebae lacking myosin IB (DMIB-). DMIB- cells generate elongated cell shapes, form particulate-free pseudopodia filled with F-actin, and exhibit an anterior bias in pseudopod extension in a fashion similar to normal amoebae. DMIB- cells also exhibit a normal response to the addition of the chemoattractant cAMP, including a depression in cellular and intracellular particle velocity, depolymerization of F-actin in pseudopodia, and a concomitant increase in cortical F-actin. DMIB- cells do, however, form lateral pseudopodia roughly three times as frequently as normal cells, turn more often, and exhibit depressed average instantaneous cell velocity. DMIB- cells also exhibit a decrease in the average instantaneous velocity of intracellular particle movement and an increase in the degree of randomness in particle direction. These findings indicate that if there is functional substitution for myosin IB by other myosin I isoforms, it is at best only partial, with myosin IB being necessary for maintenance of the normal rate and persistence of cellular translocation, suppression of lateral pseudopod formation and subsequent turning, rapid intracellular particle motility, and the normal anterograde bias of intracellular particle movement. Furthermore, it is likely that the behavioral abnormalities observed here for DMIB- cells underlie the delay in the onset of chemotactic aggregation, the increase in the time required to complete streaming, and the abnormalities in morphogenesis exhibited by DMIB- cells.

A new Acanthamoeba myosin heavy chain. Cloning of the gene and immunological identification of the polypeptide

An Acanthamoeba myosin heavy chain has been identified whose tail domain amino acid sequence distinguishes it from Acanthamoeba myosins IB, IC, and II. The gene for this novel myosin heavy chain spans approximately 6.8 kilobases, is split by 17 introns, and encodes a 177-kDa polypeptide. While the amino-terminal approximately 90 kDa of this polypeptide is highly similar to the globular head sequences of myosins I and II, its approximately 87-kDa tail domain shows essentially no similarity to the tail sequences of either type of myosin. The only exception to this is the carboxyl-terminal approximately 50-amino acid region of the polypeptide, which is homologous to the carboxyl termini of the myosins I. Interestingly, this approximately 50-residue segment has been shown to exist in a diverse family of cytoskeleton-associated proteins that include nonreceptor tyrosine kinases, phospholipase C gamma, and fodrin (Rodaway, A. R. F., Sternberg, M. J. E., and Bentley, D. L. (1989) Nature 342, 624). Sequence analysis indicates that the tail domain of this new myosin is incapable of forming a myosin II-like coiled-coil structure, implying that the protein is single-headed and nonfilamentous. For this reason we have tentatively classified it as a high molecular weight form of myosin I (HMWMI). To determine if HMWMI exists in cells, antiserum was raised against a bacterially expressed fusion peptide made using a cDNA clone encoding most of the unique HMWMI tail domain. This antiserum does not recognize Acanthamoeba myosins IB, IC, or II but does recognize a single polypeptide in whole cell extracts with the mobility predicted for the HMWMI heavy chain. This protein is precipitated from crude extracts using F-actin and released from the pellet by ATP, supporting its classification as a member of the myosin family of proteins.

A second isoform of chicken brush border myosin I contains a 29-residue inserted sequence that binds calmodulin

Chicken brush border myosin I (CBB-MI) is a single-headed, nonfilamentous, myosin-like mechanoenzyme which, as isolated, has 3 mol of calmodulin (CAM) 'light chains' bound per mole of 119 kDa heavy chain. We have isolated a partial cDNA clone for CBB-MI that encodes the C-terminal approximately 35 kDa of the heavy chain. The sequence of this clone is identical to that of an authentic, near-full-length CBB-MI cDNA clone reported recently, except for an 87-bp/29-residue insertion occurring approximately 32 kDa from the C-terminus. This insert, which is probably generated by an alternate splicing event, is expressed in brush border as part of a message of the size predicted for the CBB-MI heavy chain, although the steady state level of this transcript is approximately 8-fold lower than for transcripts lacking the insert. 125I-CAM overlays of this cDNA clone (expressed as a trpE fusion protein in E. coli) indicate that it binds one more calmodulin than does a second cDNA clone that lacks the 29-residue insert. A synthetic peptide corresponding to the insert sequence binds tightly to CAM-Sepharose, demonstrates a shift and enhancement of fluorescence in the presence of CAM, and binds CAM in solution with a KD of 190 nM (in 100 mM KCl). We conclude that a second, low-abundance isoform of CBB-MI contains an additional (and possibly fourth) CAM binding site as a result of a 29-residue peptide that is inserted into the tail domain by an apparent alternate splicing event.

Generation and characterization of Dictyostelium cells deficient in a myosin I heavy chain isoform

Motile activities such as chemotaxis and phagocytosis, which occur in Dictyostelium cells lacking myosin II, may be dependent upon myosin I. To begin to explore this possibility, we have engineered a disruption of the Dictyostelium myosin I heavy chain (DMIHC) gene described recently (Jung, G., C. L. Saxe III, A. R. Kimmel, and J. A. Hammer III. 1989. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 86:6186-6190). The double-crossover, gene disruption event that occurred resulted in replacement of the middle approximate one-third of the gene with the neomycin resistance marker. The resulting cells are devoid of both the 3.6-kb DMIHC gene transcript and the 124-kD DMIHC polypeptide. DMIHC- cells are capable of chemotactic streaming and aggregation, but these processes are delayed. Furthermore, the rate of phagocytosis by DMIHC- cells is reduced, as assessed by growth rate on lawns of heat-killed bacteria and on the initial rate of uptake of FITC-labeled bacteria. Therefore, this Dictyostelium myosin I isoform appears to play a role in supporting chemotaxis and phagocytosis, but it is clearly not required for these processes to occur. Using a portion of the DMIHC gene as a probe, we have cloned three additional Dictyostelium small myosin heavy chain genes. Comparison of these four genes with three genes described recently by Titus et al. (Titus, M. A., H. M. Warrick, and J. A. Spudich. 1989. Cell Reg. 1:55-63) indicates that there are at least five small myosin heavy chain genes in Dictyostelium. The probability that there is considerable overlap of function between these small myosin isoforms indicates that multiple gene disruptions within a single cell may be necessary to generate a more striking myosin I- phenotype.

Myosin I heavy-chain genes of Acanthamoeba castellanii: cloning of a second gene and evidence for the existence of a third isoform

We have determined the complete sequence and structure of a second myosin I heavy-chain gene from Acanthamoeba castellanii. This gene, which we have named MIL, spans approx. 6kb, is split by 17 introns, encodes a 1147-aa polypeptide, and is transcribed in log-phase cells. The positions of six of the introns are conserved relative to a vertebrate muscle myosin gene. Similar to the previously characterized MIB heavy-chain gene, the deduced MIL heavy-chain aa sequence reveals a 125-kDa protein composed of a myosin globular head domain joined to a novel, approx. 50-kDa C-terminal domain that is rich in glycine, proline and alanine residues. There are differences, however, between MIL and MIB in the sequence organization of their unconventional C-terminal domains. We conclude from this and other data that Acanthamoeba express at least three myosin I heavy-chain isoforms: MIL, plus MIA and MIB, whose purifications have been published previously. Amoeba genomic DNA blots probed with a short, highly conserved sequence whose position is transposed between MIB and MIL indicate that the Acanthamoeba myosin I heavy-chain gene family may actually contain as many as six genes. Finally, we compared the myosin I sequences with those of two related proteins, Drosophila NinaC and the bovine myosin I-like protein, and found that a portion of the unconventional C-terminal domains of the amoeba myosins I and the bovine protein appear to be related.

Myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and rat brain-specific 1B236 protein: mapping of epitopes and demonstration of immunological identity

The myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) and the brain 1B236 protein are 100-kDa glycoproteins containing 30% carbohydrate that exist in two developmentally regulated forms and are specific to the nervous system. Recent cDNA cloning experiments in several laboratories using primarily immunological means of identification have determined the complete primary sequence of a rat brain glycoprotein that seems to correspond to both MAG and 1B236, suggesting that these proteins are identical. However, MAG was previously considered to be an oligodendrocyte/myelin specific component in the CNS at all ages, whereas 1B236 was thought to be primarily a neuronal component in adult rats but synthesized by oligodendrocytes at the time of active myelination. The composite term 1B236/MAG was proposed to describe the molecule identified by the cDNAs. In order to explore further the relationship between MAG and 1B236, as well as their developmentally regulated forms, experiments were carried out on rat samples utilizing synthetic peptides corresponding to sequences throughout the 1B236 molecule, antisera raised to synthetic peptides in the C-terminus of 1B236 that distinguish between the two developmentally regulated forms, and well-characterized polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies raised to purified MAG. Epitope mapping demonstrated that reactive sites were distributed throughout the extracellular and intracellular domains of 1B236/MAG. Only antibodies reacting with the smaller of the two forms of 1B236/MAG detected the glycoprotein in the peripheral nervous system. Both anti-MAG and anti-1B236 antibodies revealed a drastic reduction of the level of 1B236/MAG in 25-day-old myelin-deficient rats and in adult quaking mice, and both types of antibodies revealed a slight shift of 1B236/MAG toward higher apparent Mr in quaking mice as had previously been reported for MAG. The results indicate that MAG and 1B236 are almost certainly identical since they cannot be distinguished immunologically by the reagents available and that quantitatively most of the glycoprotein is associated with oligodendrocytes and myelin rather than neurons at all ages.

Dictyostelium discoideum contains a gene encoding a myosin I heavy chain

We have cloned and completely sequenced a gene encoding the heavy chain of Dictyostelium myosin I. Like the myosin I molecules from Acanthamoeba, the Dictyostelium myosin I heavy chain is composed of a globular head domain fused to a 45-kDa glycine-, proline-, and alanine-rich carboxyl-terminal domain, rather than the coiled-coil rod domain of conventional myosins. Comparisons of the Dictyostelium myosin I heavy-chain amino acid sequence with those of the Acanthamoeba myosins I reveal that they are highly similar throughout, including the unconventional carboxyl-terminal domains. The Dictyostelium myosin I gene is expressed in growing cells as a 3600-nucleotide mRNA. Measurements of the steady-state level of this mRNA at different times during starvation-induced aggregation and development are consistent with a role for myosin I in chemotaxis and aggregation. Generation of Dictyostelium cells lacking myosin I by gene disruption and/or antisense RNA production should provide a way to test directly the role of this nonfilamentous myosin in cell motility. These experiments will be simplified by the fact that Southern blot analyses of Dictyostelium genomic DNA are consistent with there being a single myosin I heavy-chain gene.

Structure-function studies on Acanthamoeba myosins IA, IB, and II

Myosins IA and IB are globular proteins with only a single, short (for myosins) heavy chain (140,000 and 125,000 daltons for IA and IB, respectively) and are unable to form bipolar filaments. The amino acid sequence of IB heavy chain shows 55% similarity to muscle myosins in the N-terminal 670 residues, which contain the active sites, and a unique 500-residue C-terminus highly enriched in proline, glycine, and alanine. The C-terminal region contains a second actin-binding site which allows myosins IA and IB to cross-link actin filaments and support contractile activity. Myosins IA and IB are regulated solely by phosphorylation of one serine on the heavy chain positioned between the catalytic site and the actin-binding site that activates ATPase. Myosin II is a more conventional myosin in composition (two heavy chains and two pairs of light chains), heavy chain sequence (globular head 45% identical to muscle myosins and a coiled-coil helical tail), and structure (bipolar filaments). The tail of myosin II is much shorter than that of other conventional myosins, and it contains a 25 amino acid sequence in which helical structure is predicted to be weak or absent. The position of this sequence corresponds to the position of a bend in the monomer. Myosin II heavy chains also have a 29-residue nonhelical tailpiece which contains three regulatory, phosphorylatable serines. Phosphorylation at the tip of the tail regulates ATPase activity in the globular head apparently through an effect on filament structure.

The heavy chain of Acanthamoeba myosin IB is a fusion of myosin-like and non-myosin-like sequences

Acanthamoeba castellanii myosins IA and IB demonstrate the catalytic properties of a myosin and can support analogues of contractile and motile activity in vitro, but their single, low molecular weight heavy chains, roughly globular shapes, and inabilities to self-assemble into filaments make them structurally atypical myosins. We now present the complete amino acid sequence of the 128-kDa myosin IB heavy chain, which we deduced from the nucleotide sequence of the gene and which reveals that the polypeptide is a fusion of myosin-like and non-myosin-like sequences. Specifically, the amino-terminal approximately 76 kDa of amino acid sequence is highly similar to the globular head sequences of conventional myosins. By contrast, the remaining approximately 51 kDa of sequence shows no similarity to any portion of conventional myosin sequences, contains regions that are rich in glycine, proline, and alanine residues, and lacks the distinctive sequence characteristics of an alpha-helical, coiled-coil structure. We conclude, therefore, that the protein is composed of a myosin globular head fused not to the typical coiled-coil rod-like myosin tail structure but rather to an unusual carboxyl-terminal domain. These results support the conclusion that filamentous myosin is not required for force generation and provide a further perspective on the structural requirements for myosin function. Finally, we find a striking conservation of intron/exon structure between this gene and a vertebrate muscle myosin gene. We discuss this observation in relation to the evolutionary origin of the myosin IB gene and the antiquity of myosin gene intron/exon structure.

Complete nucleotide sequence and deduced polypeptide sequence of a nonmuscle myosin heavy chain gene from Acanthamoeba: evidence of a hinge in the rodlike tail

We have completely sequenced a gene encoding the heavy chain of myosin II, a nonmuscle myosin from the soil ameba Acanthamoeba castellanii. The gene spans 6 kb, is split by three small introns, and encodes a 1,509-residue heavy chain polypeptide. The positions of the three introns are largely conserved relative to characterized vertebrate and invertebrate muscle myosin genes. The deduced myosin II globular head amino acid sequence shows a high degree of similarity with the globular head sequences of the rat embryonic skeletal muscle and nematode unc 54 muscle myosins. By contrast, there is no unique way to align the deduced myosin II rod amino acid sequence with the rod sequence of these muscle myosins. Nevertheless, the periodicities of hydrophobic and charged residues in the myosin II rod sequence, which dictate the coiled-coil structure of the rod and its associations within the myosin filament, are very similar to those of the muscle myosins. We conclude that this ameba nonmuscle myosin shares with the muscle myosins of vertebrates and invertebrates an ancestral heavy chain gene. The low level of direct sequence similarity between the rod sequences of myosin II and muscle myosins probably reflects a general tolerance for residue changes in the rod domain (as long as the periodicities of hydrophobic and charged residues are largely maintained), the relative evolutionary "ages" of these myosins, and specific differences between the filament properties of myosin II and muscle myosins. Finally, sequence analysis and electron microscopy reveal the presence within the myosin II rodlike tail of a well-defined hinge region where sharp bending can occur. We speculate that this hinge may play a key role in mediating the effect of heavy chain phosphorylation on enzymatic activity.

Genetic evidence that Acanthamoeba myosin I is a true myosin

Acanthamoeba castellanii contains two enzymes, myosins IA and IB, that exhibit the catalytic properties of a myosin but possess very unusual physical properties, the most striking of which are their single, low molecular weight heavy chain, their globular shape, and their inability to form bipolar filaments. We have now isolated a putative myosin IB heavy chain gene from Acanthamoeba, using as a heterologous probe a portion of a sarcomeric myosin heavy chain gene from Caenorhabditis elegans. The amoeba genomic clone hybridizes to a 4250-nucleotide RNA species and hybrid-selects an mRNA encoding a 125-kDa polypeptide. This polypeptide comigrates exactly with the heavy chain of purified amoeba myosin IB and is specifically immunoprecipitated with antiserum to myosin IB. We sequenced two restriction enzyme fragments of this gene, and the deduced amino acid sequences show strong homology with the regions of muscle myosins that contain the reactive thiols and the ATP binding site. Our identification of a myosin IB heavy chain gene demonstrates that myosin IB, despite the unusually low molecular weight of its heavy chain, is a true gene product. The sequence results show that, despite its atypical physical properties, myosin IB is clearly related to conventional myosins.

Isolation of a non-muscle myosin heavy chain gene from Acanthamoeba

We have isolated a non-muscle myosin heavy chain gene from Acanthamoeba castellanii using as a heterologous probe a sarcomeric myosin heavy chain gene from Caenorhabditis elegans. The amoeba genomic clone has been tentatively identified as containing a myosin II heavy chain gene based on hybridization to a 5300-nucleotide RNA species, hybrid selection of a mRNA encoding a 185-kDa polypeptide, specific immunoprecipitation of this polypeptide with antiserum to myosin II, and an exact match between the DNA sequence and a carboxyl-terminal myosin II peptide previously sequenced by protein chemical methods (Côté, G.P., Robinson, E.A., Appella, E., and Korn, E. D. (1984) J. Biol. Chem. 259, 12781-12787). We also sequenced a region of the gene whose deduced amino acid sequence shows strong homology with that region of muscle myosins which is thought to be involved in nucleotide binding. These results indicate that the amoeba genomic clone contains at least 90% of the coding information for the 185-kDa heavy chain polypeptide and that the bulk of the gene contains very little intron DNA. Genomic blots of amoeba DNA probed with a portion of this myosin gene indicate the presence of additional highly related sequences within the amoeba genome.

Monomeric Acanthamoeba myosins I support movement in vitro

Acanthamoeba myosins IA and IB were found to have molecular weights of 159,000 and 150,000 and Stokes radii of 6.2 and 5.9 nm, respectively. Both enzymes have frictional ratios of 1.7. Myosin IA consists of 22% alpha-helix, 32% beta-structure, and 46% unordered structure, while myosin IB is 16% alpha-helix, 46% beta-structure, and 38% unordered. Both myosins remain monomolecular under conditions in which other myosins form filaments. Beads coated with myosin IA or IB move unidirectionally on actin cables of Nitella. Movement requires ATP and phosphorylation of the myosin I heavy chain which is also required for actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase activity. Movement is inhibited by myosin I antiserum that inhibits actin-activated ATPase activity. These studies establish that these nonfilamentous, monomolecular myosins with single heavy chains of 130,000 and 125,000 daltons (IA and IB, respectively) can support actin-dependent movement analogous to that supported by filamentous myosins.