Vertebrate myosin VIIb is a high duty ratio motor adapted for generating and maintaining tension

Kinetic adaptation of muscle and non-muscle myosins plays a central role in defining the unique cellular functions of these molecular motor enzymes. The unconventional vertebrate class VII myosin, myosin VIIb, is highly expressed in polarized cells and localizes to highly ordered actin filament bundles such as those found in the microvilli of the intestinal brush border and kidney. We have cloned mouse myosin VIIb from a cDNA library, expressed and purified the catalytic motor domain, and characterized its actin-activated ATPase cycle using quantitative equilibrium and kinetic methods. The myosin VIIb steady-state ATPase activity is slow (approximately 1 s(-1)), activated by very low actin filament concentrations (K(ATPase) approximately 0.7 microm), and limited by ADP release from actomyosin. The slow ADP dissociation rate constant generates a long lifetime of the strong binding actomyosin.ADP states. ADP and actin binding is uncoupled, which enables myosin VIIb to remain strongly bound to actin and ADP at very low actin concentrations. In the presence of 2 mm ATP and 2 microm actin, the duty ratio of myosin VIIb is approximately 0.8. The enzymatic properties of actomyosin VIIb are suited for generating and maintaining tension and favor a role for myosin VIIb in anchoring membrane surface receptors to the actin cytoskeleton. Given the high conservation of vertebrate class VII myosins, deafness phenotypes arising from disruption of normal myosin VIIa function are likely to reflect a loss of tension in the stereocilia of inner ear hair cells.     

Human myosin Vc is a low duty ratio, nonprocessive molecular motor

Myosin Vc is the product of one of the three genes of the class V myosin found in vertebrates. It is widely found in secretory and glandular tissues, with a possible involvement in transferrin trafficking. Transient and steady-state kinetic studies of human myosin Vc were performed using a truncated, single-headed construct. Steady-state actin-activated ATPase measurements revealed a V(max) of 1.8 +/- 0.3 s(-1) and a K(ATPase) of 43 +/- 11 microm. Unlike previously studied vertebrate myosin Vs, the rate-limiting step in the actomyosin Vc ATPase pathway is the release of inorganic phosphate (~1.5 s(-1)), rather than the ADP release step (~12.0-16.0 s(-1)). Nevertheless, the ADP affinity of actomyosin Vc (K(d) = 0.25 +/- 0.02 microm) reflects a higher ADP affinity than seen in other myosin V isoforms. Using the measured kinetic rates, the calculated duty ratio of myosin Vc was approximately 10%, indicating that myosin Vc spends the majority of the actomyosin ATPase cycle in weak actin-binding states, unlike the other vertebrate myosin V isoforms. Consistent with this, a fluorescently labeled double-headed heavy meromyosin form showed no processive movements along actin filaments in a single molecule assay, but it did move actin filaments at a velocity of approximately 24 nm/s in ensemble assays. Kinetic simulations reveal that the high ADP affinity of actomyosin Vc may lead to elevations of the duty ratio of myosin Vc to as high as 64% under possible physiological ADP concentrations. This, in turn, may possibly imply a regulatory mechanism that may be sensitive to moderate changes in ADP concentration.     

Drosophila myosin VIIA is a high duty ratio motor with a unique kinetic mechanism

Mutations of myosin VIIA cause deafness in various species from human and mice to Zebrafish and Drosophila. We analyzed the kinetic mechanism of the ATPase cycle of Drosophila myosin VIIA by using a single-headed construct with the entire neck domain. The steady-state ATPase activity (0.06 s(-1)) was markedly activated by actin to yield V(max) and K(ATPase) of 1.72 s(-1) and 3.2 microm, respectively. The most intriguing finding is that the ATP hydrolysis predominantly takes place in the actin-bound form (actin-attached hydrolysis) for the actomyosin VIIA ATPase reaction. The ATP hydrolysis rate was much faster for the actin-attached form than the dissociated form, in contrast to other myosins reported so far. Both the ATP hydrolysis step and the phosphate release step were significantly faster than the entire ATPase cycle rate, thus not rate-determining. The rate of ADP dissociation from actomyosin VIIA was 1.86 s(-1), which was comparable with the overall ATPase cycle rate, thus assigned to be a rate-determining step. The results suggest that Drosophila myosin VIIA spends the majority of the ATPase cycle in an actomyosin.ADP form, a strong actin binding state. The duty ratio calculated from our kinetic model was approximately 0.9. Therefore, myosin VIIA is classified to be a high duty ratio motor. The present results suggested that myosin VIIA can be a processive motor to serve cargo trafficking in cells once it forms a dimer structure.     

Functional divergence of human cytoplasmic myosin II: kinetic characterization of the non-muscle IIA isoform

Cytoplasmic (or non-muscle) myosin II isoforms are widely expressed molecular motors playing essential cellular roles in cytokinesis and cortical tension maintenance. Two of the three human non-muscle myosin II isoforms (IIA and IIB) have been investigated at the protein level. Transient kinetics of non-muscle myosin IIB showed that this motor has a very high actomyosin ADP affinity and slow ADP release. Here we report the kinetic characterization of the non-muscle myosin IIA isoform. Similar to non-muscle myosin IIB, non-muscle myosin IIA shows high ADP affinity and little enhancement of the ADP release rate by actin. The ADP release rate constant, however, is more than an order of magnitude higher than the steady-state ATPase rate. This implies that non-muscle myosin IIA spends only a small fraction of its ATPase cycle time in strongly actin-bound states, which is in contrast to non-muscle myosin IIB. Non-muscle myosin II isoforms thus appear to have distinct enzymatic properties that may be of importance in carrying out their cellular functions.     

Myosin X is a high duty ratio motor

Myosin X is expressed in a variety of cell types and plays a role in cargo movement and filopodia extension, but its mechanoenzymatic characteristics are not fully understood. Here we analyzed the kinetic mechanism of the ATP hydrolysis cycle of acto-myosin X using a single-headed construct (M10IQ1). Myosin X was unique for the weak "strong actin binding state" (AMD) with a K(d) of 1.6 microm attributed to the large dissociation rate constant (2.1 s(-1)). V(max) and K(ATPase) of the actin-activated ATPase activity of M10IQ1 were 13.5 s(-1) and 17.4 mum, respectively. The ATP hydrolysis rate (>100 s(-1)) and the phosphate release rate from acto-myosin X (>100 s(-1)) were much faster than the entire ATPase cycle rate and, thus, not rate-limiting. The ADP off-rate from acto-myosin X was 23 s(-1), which was two times larger than the V(max). The P(i)-burst size was low (0.46 mol/mol), indicating that the equilibrium is significantly shifted toward the prehydrolysis intermediate. The steady-state ATPase rate can be explained by a combination of the unfavorable equilibrium constant of the hydrolysis step and the relatively slow ADP off-rate. The duty ratio calculated from our kinetic model, 0.6, was consistent with the duty ratio, 0.7, obtained from comparison of K(m ATPase) and K(m motility). Our results suggest that myosin X is a high duty ratio motor.     

Myosin VIIB from Drosophila is a high duty ratio motor

Myosin VII is an unconventional myosin widely expressed in organisms ranging from amoebae to mammals that has been shown to play vital roles in cell adhesion and phagocytosis. Here we present the first study of the mechanism of action of a myosin VII isoform. We have expressed a truncated single-headed Drosophila myosin VIIB construct in the baculovirus-Sf9 system that bound calmodulin light chains. By using steady-state and transient kinetic methods, we showed that myosin VIIB exhibits a fast release of phosphate and a slower, rate-limiting ADP release from actomyosin. As a result, myosin VIIB will be predominantly strongly bound to actin during steady-state ATP hydrolysis (its duty ratio will be at least 80%). This kinetic pattern is in many respects similar to that of the single-molecule vesicle transporters myosin V and VI. The enzymatic properties of myosin VIIB provide a kinetic basis for processivity upon possible dimerization via the C-terminal domains of the heavy chain. Our experiments also revealed conformational heterogeneity of the actomyosin VIIB complex in the absence of nucleotide.     

Kinetic mechanism and regulation of myosin VI.

Myosin VI is the only pointed end-directed myosin identified and is likely regulated by heavy chain phosphorylation (HCP) at the actin-binding site in vivo. We undertook a detailed kinetic analysis of the actomyosin VI ATPase cycle to determine whether there are unique adaptations to support reverse directionality and to determine the molecular basis of regulation by HCP. ADP release is the rate-limiting step in the cycle. ATP binds slowly and with low affinity. At physiological nucleotide concentrations, myosin VI is strongly bound to actin and populates the nucleotide-free (rigor) and ADP-bound states. Therefore, myosin VI is a high duty ratio motor adapted for maintaining tension and has potential to be processive. A mutant mimicking HCP increases the rate of P(i) release, which lowers the K(ATPase) but does not affect ADP release. These measurements are the first to directly measure the steps regulated by HCP for any myosin. Measurements with double-headed myosin VI demonstrate that the heads are not independent, and the native dimer hydrolyzes multiple ATPs per diffusional encounter with an actin filament. We propose an alternating site model for the stepping and processivity of two-headed high duty ratio myosins.     

Kinetic characterization of the function of myosin loop 4 in the actin-myosin interaction

Myosin interacts with actin during its enzymatic cycle, and actin stimulates myosin's ATPase activity. There are extensive interaction surfaces on both actin and myosin. Several surface loops of myosin play different roles in actomyosin interaction. However, the functional role of loop 4 in actin binding is still ambiguous. We explored the role of loop 4 by either mutating its conserved acidic group, Glu-365, to Gln (E365Q), or by replacing the entire loop with three glycines (DeltaAL) in a Dictyostelium discoideum myosin II motor domain (MD) containing a single tryptophan residue. This native tryptophan (Trp-501) is located in the relay loop and is sensitive to nucleotide binding and lever-arm movement. Fluorescence and fast kinetic measurements showed that the mutations in loop 4 do not alter the enzymatic steps of the ATPase cycle in the absence of actin. By contrast, actin binding was significantly weakened in the absence and presence of ADP and ATP in both mutants. Because the strength of actin-myosin interaction increases in the order of rigor, ADP, and ATP complex, we conclude that loop 4 is a functional actin-binding region that stabilizes actomyosin complex, particularly in weak actin-binding states.     

Human myosin III is a motor having an extremely high affinity for actin

Myosin IIIA is expressed in photoreceptor cells and thought to play a critical role in phototransduction processes, yet its function on a molecular basis is largely unknown. Here we clarified the kinetic mechanism of the ATPase cycle of human myosin IIIA. The steady-state ATPase activity was markedly activated approximately 10-fold with very low actin concentration. The rate of ADP off from actomyosin IIIA was 10 times greater than the overall cycling rate, thus not a rate-determining step. The rate constant of the ATP hydrolysis step of the actin-dissociated form was very slow, but the rate was markedly accelerated by actin binding. The dissociation constant of the ATP-bound form of myosin IIIA from actin is submicromolar, which agrees well with the low K(actin). These results indicate that ATP hydrolysis predominantly takes place in the actin-bound form for actomyosin IIIA ATPase reaction. The obtained K(actin) was much lower than the previously reported one, and we found that the autophosphorylation of myosin IIIA dramatically increased the K(actin), whereas the V(max) was unchanged. Our kinetic model indicates that both the actin-attached hydrolysis and the P(i) release steps determine the overall cycle rate of the dephosphorylated form. Although the stable steady-state intermediates of actomyosin IIIA ATPase reaction are not typical strong actin-binding intermediates, the affinity of the stable intermediates for actin is much higher than conventional weak actin binding forms. The present results suggest that myosin IIIA can spend a majority of its ATP hydrolysis cycling time on actin.     

Magnesium, ADP, and actin binding linkage of myosin V: evidence for multiple myosin V-ADP and actomyosin V-ADP states

The [Mg(2+)] dependence of ADP binding to myosin V and actomyosin V was measured from the fluorescence of mantADP. Time courses of MgmantADP dissociation from myosin V and actomyosin V are biphasic with fast observed rate constants that depend on the [Mg(2+)] and slow observed rate constants that are [Mg(2+)]-independent. Two myosin V-MgADP states that are in reversible equilibrium, one that exchanges nucleotide and cation slowly (strong binding) and one that exchanges nucleotide and cation rapidly (weak binding), account for the data. The two myosin V-MgADP states are of comparable energies, as indicated by the relatively equimolar partitioning at saturating magnesium. Actin binding lowers the affinity for bound Mg(2+) 2-fold but shifts the isomerization equilibrium approximately 6-fold to the weak ADP binding state, lowering the affinity and accelerating the overall rate of MgADP release. Actin does not weaken the affinity or accelerate the release of cation-free ADP, indicating that actin and ADP binding linkage is magnesium-dependent. Myosin V and myosin V-ADP binding to actin was assayed from the quenching of pyrene actin fluorescence. Time courses of myosin V-ADP binding and release are biphasic, consistent with the existence of two (weak and strong) quenched pyrene actomyosin V-ADP conformations. We favor a sequential mechanism for actomyosin V dissociation with a transition from strong to weak actin-binding conformations preceding dissociation. The data provide evidence for multiple myosin-ADP and actomyosin-ADP states and establish a kinetic and thermodynamic framework for defining the magnesium-dependent coupling between the actin and nucleotide binding sites of myosin.     

The tail domain of myosin Va modulates actin binding to one head

Calcium activates full-length myosin Va steady-state enzymatic activity and favors the transition from a compact, folded "off" state to an extended "on" state. However, little is known of how a head-tail interaction alters the individual actin and nucleotide binding rate and equilibrium constants of the ATPase cycle. We measured the effect of calcium on nucleotide and actin filament binding to full-length myosin Va purified from chick brains. Both heads of nucleotide-free myosin Va bind actin strongly, independent of calcium. In the absence of calcium, bound ADP weakens the affinity of one head for actin filaments at equilibrium and upon initial encounter. The addition of calcium allows both heads of myosin Va.ADP to bind actin strongly. Calcium accelerates ADP binding to actomyosin independent of the tail but minimally affects ATP binding. Although 18O exchange and product release measurements favor a mechanism in which actin-activated Pi release from myosin Va is very rapid, independent of calcium and the tail domain, both heads do not bind actin strongly during steady-state cycling, as assayed by pyrene actin fluorescence. In the absence of calcium, inclusion of ADP favors formation of a long lived myosin Va.ADP state that releases ADP slowly, even after mixing with actin. Our results suggest that calcium activates myosin Va by allowing both heads to interact with actin and exchange bound nucleotide and indicate that regulation of actin binding by the tail is a nucleotide-dependent process favored by linked conformational changes of the motor domain.     

Human myosin Vc is a low duty ratio nonprocessive motor

There are three distinct members of the myosin V family in vertebrates, and each isoform is involved in different membrane trafficking pathways. Both myosin Va and Vb have demonstrated that they are high duty ratio motors that are consistent with the processive nature of these motors. Here we report that the ATPase cycle mechanism of the single-headed construct of myosin Vc is quite different from those of other vertebrate myosin V isoforms. K(ATPase) of the actin-activated ATPase was 62 microm, which is much higher than that of myosin Va ( approximately 1 mum). The rate of ADP release from actomyosin Vc was 12.7 s(-1), which was 2 times greater than the entire ATPase cycle rate, 6.5 s(-1). P(i) burst size was 0.31, indicating that the equilibrium of the ATP hydrolysis step is shifted to the prehydrolysis form. Our kinetic model, based on all kinetic data we determined in this study, suggests that myosin Vc spends the majority of the ATPase cycle time in the weak actin binding state in contrast to myosin Va and Vb. Consistently, the two-headed myosin Vc construct did not show processive movement in total internal reflection fluorescence microscope analysis, demonstrating that myosin Vc is a nonprocessive motor. Our findings suggest that myosin Vc fulfills its function as a cargo transporter by different mechanisms from other myosin V isoforms.     

Kinetic mechanism of non-muscle myosin IIB: functional adaptations for tension generation and maintenance

Besides driving contraction of various types of muscle tissue, conventional (class II) myosins serve essential cellular functions and are ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells. Three different isoforms in the human myosin complement have been identified as non-muscle class II myosins. Here we report the kinetic characterization of a human non-muscle myosin IIB subfragment-1 construct produced in the baculovirus expression system. Transient kinetic data show that most steps of the actomyosin ATPase cycle are slowed down compared with other class II myosins. The ADP affinity of subfragment-1 is unusually high even in the presence of actin filaments, and the rate of ADP release is close to the steady-state ATPase rate. Thus, non-muscle myosin IIB subfragment-1 spends a significantly higher proportion of its kinetic cycle strongly attached to actin than do the muscle myosins. This feature is even more pronounced at slightly elevated ADP levels, and it may be important in carrying out the cellular functions of this isoform working in small filamentous assemblies.     

Kinetic mechanism of human myosin IIIA

Myosin IIIA is specifically expressed in photoreceptors and cochlea and is important for the phototransduction and hearing processes. In addition, myosin IIIA contains a unique N-terminal kinase domain and C-terminal tail actin-binding motif. We examined the kinetic properties of baculovirus expressed human myosin IIIA containing the kinase, motor, and two IQ domains. The maximum actin-activated ATPase rate is relatively slow (k(cat) = 0.77 +/- 0.08 s(-1)), and high actin concentrations are required to fully activate the ATPase rate (K(ATPase) = 34 +/- 11 microm). However, actin co-sedimentation assays suggest that myosin III has a relatively high steady-state affinity for actin in the presence of ATP (K(actin) approximately 7 microm). The rate of ATP binding to the motor domain is quite slow both in the presence and absence of actin (K(1)k(+2) = 0.020 and 0.001 microm(-1).s(-1), respectively). The rate of actin-activated phosphate release is more than 100-fold faster (85 s(-1)) than the k(cat), whereas ADP release in the presence of actin follows a two-step mechanism (7.0 and 0.6 s(-1)). Thus, our data suggest a transition between two actomyosin-ADP states is the rate-limiting step in the actomyosin III ATPase cycle. Our data also suggest the myosin III motor spends a large fraction of its cycle in an actomyosin ADP state that has an intermediate affinity for actin (K(d) approximately 5 microm). The long lived actomyosin-ADP state may be important for the ability of myosin III to function as a cellular transporter and actin cross-linker in the actin bundles of sensory cells.     

Caldesmon freezes the structure of actin filaments during the actomyosin ATPase cycle

Hybrid contractile apparatus was reconstituted in skeletal muscle ghost fibers by incorporation of skeletal muscle myosin subfragment 1 (S1), smooth muscle tropomyosin and caldesmon. The spatial orientation of FITC-phalloidin-labeled actin and IAEDANS-labeled S1 during sequential steps of the acto-S1 ATPase cycle was studied by measurement of polarized fluorescence in the absence or presence of nucleotides conditioning the binding affinity of both proteins. In the fibers devoid of caldesmon addition of nucleotides evoked unidirectional synchronous changes in the orientation of the fluorescent probes attached to F-actin or S1. The results support the suggestion on the multistep rotation of the cross-bridge (myosin head and actin monomers) during the ATPase cycle. The maximal cross-bridge rotation by 7 degrees relative to the fiber axis and the increase in its rigidity by 30% were observed at transition between A**.M**.ADP.Pi (weak binding) and A--.M--.ADP (strong binding) states. When caldesmon was present in the fibers (OFF-state of the thin filament) the unidirectional changes in the orientation of actin monomers and S1 were uncoupled. The tilting of the myosin head and of the actin monomer decreased by 29% and 90%, respectively. It is suggested that in the "closed" position caldesmon "freezes" the actin filament structure and induces the transition of the intermediate state of actomyosin towards the weak-binding states, thereby inhibiting the ATPase activity of the actomyosin.     

The kinetic mechanism of mouse myosin VIIA

Myosin VIIa is crucial in hearing and visual processes. We examined the kinetic and association properties of the baculovirus expressed, truncated mouse myosin VIIa construct containing the head, all 5IQ motifs and the putative coiled coil domain (myosin VIIa-5IQ). The construct appears to be monomeric as determined by analytical ultracentrifugation experiments, and only single headed molecules were detected by negative stain electron microscopy. The relatively high basal steady-state rate of 0.18 s(-1) is activated by actin only by ～3.5-fold resulting in a V(max) of 0.7 s(-1) and a K(ATPase) of 11.5 μM. There is no single rate-limiting step of the ATP hydrolysis cycle. The ATP hydrolysis step (M·T M·D·P) is slow (12 s(-1)) and the equilibrium constant (K(H)) of 1 suggests significant reversal of hydrolysis. In the presence of actin ADP dissociates with a rate constant of 1.2 s(-1). Phosphate dissociation is relatively fast (>12 s(-1)), but the maximal rate could not be experimentally obtained at actin concentrations ≤ 50 μM because of the weak binding of the myosin VIIa-ADP-P(i) complex to actin. At higher actin concentrations the rate of attached hydrolysis (0.4 s(-1)) becomes significant and partially rate-limiting. Our findings suggest that the myosin VIIa is a "slow", monomeric molecular motor with a duty ratio of 0.6.     

Myosin Va becomes a low duty ratio motor in the inhibited form

Vertebrate myosin Va is a typical processive motor with high duty ratio. Recent studies have revealed that the actin-activated ATPase activity of the full-length myosin Va (M5aFull) is inhibited at a low [Ca(2+)], which is due to the formation of a folded conformation of M5aFull. To clarify the underlying inhibitory mechanism, we analyzed the actin-activated ATP hydrolysis mechanism of the M5aFull at the inhibited and the activated states, respectively. Marked differences were found in the hydrolysis, P(i) release, and ADP release steps between the activated and the inhibited states. The kinetic constants of these steps of the activated state were similar to those of the unregulated S1 construct, in which the rate-limiting step was the ADP release step. On the other hand, the P(i) release rate from acto-M5aFull was decreased in EGTA by >1,000-fold, which makes this step the rate-limiting step for the actin-activated ATP hydrolysis cycle of M5aFull. The ADP off rate from acto-M5aFull was decreased by approximately 10-fold, and the equilibrium between the prehydrolysis state and the post hydrolysis state was shifted toward the former state in the inhibited state of M5aFull. Because of these changes, M5aFull spends a majority of the ATP hydrolysis cycling time in the weak actin binding state. The present results indicate that M5aFull molecules at a low [Ca(2+)] is inhibited as a cargo transporter not only due to the decrease in the cross-bridge cycling rate but also due to the decrease in the duty ratio thus being dissociated from actin.     

Functional role of loop 2 in myosin V

Myosin V is molecular motor that is capable of moving processively along actin filaments. The kinetics of monomeric myosin V containing a single IQ domain (MV 1IQ) differ from nonprocessive myosin II in that actin affinity is higher, phosphate release is extremely rapid, and ADP release is rate-limiting. We generated two mutants of myosin V by altering loop 2, a surface loop in the actin-binding region thought to alter actin affinity and phosphate release in myosin II, to determine the role that this loop plays in the kinetic tuning of myosin V. The loop 2 mutants altered the apparent affinity for actin (K(ATPase)) without altering the maximum ATPase rate (V(MAX)). Transient kinetic analysis determined that the rate of binding to actin, as well as the affinity for actin, was dependent on the net positive charge of loop 2, while other steps in the ATPase cycle were unchanged. The maximum rate of phosphate release was unchanged, but the affinity for actin in the M.ADP.Pi-state was dramatically altered by the mutations in loop 2. Thus, loop 2 is important for allowing myosin V to bind to actin with a relatively high affinity in the weak binding states but does not play a direct role in the product release steps. The ability to maintain a high affinity for actin in the weak binding states may prevent diffusion away from the actin filament and increase the degree of processive motion of myosin V.     

Kinetic mechanism of the fastest motor protein, Chara myosin

Chara corallina class XI myosin is by far the fastest molecular motor. To investigate the molecular mechanism of this fast movement, we performed a kinetic analysis of a recombinant motor domain of Chara myosin. We estimated the time spent in the strongly bound state with actin by measuring rate constants of ADP dissociation from actin.motor domain complex and ATP-induced dissociation of the motor domain from actin. The rate constant of ADP dissociation from acto-motor domain was >2800 s(-1), and the rate constant of ATP-induced dissociation of the motor domain from actin at physiological ATP concentration was 2200 s(-1). From these data, the time spent in the strongly bound state with actin was estimated to be <0.82 ms. This value is the shortest among known values for various myosins and yields the duty ratio of <0.3 with a V(max) value of the actin-activated ATPase activity of 390 s(-1). The addition of the long neck domain of myosin Va to the Chara motor domain largely increased the velocity of the motility without increasing the ATP hydrolysis cycle rate, consistent with the swinging lever model. In addition, this study reveals some striking kinetic features of Chara myosin that are suited for the fast movement: a dramatic acceleration of ADP release by actin (1000-fold) and extremely fast ATP binding rate.     

Mechanism of nucleotide binding to actomyosin VI: evidence for allosteric head-head communication

We have examined the kinetics of nucleotide binding to actomyosin VI by monitoring the fluorescence of pyrene-labeled actin filaments. ATP binds single-headed myosin VI following a two-step reaction mechanism with formation of a low affinity collision complex (1/K(1)' = 5.6 mm) followed by isomerization (k(+2)' = 176 s-1) to a state with weak actin affinity. The rates and affinity for ADP binding were measured by kinetic competition with ATP. This approach allows a broader range of ADP concentrations to be examined than with fluorescent nucleotide analogs, permitting the identification and characterization of transiently populated intermediates in the pathway. ADP binding to actomyosin VI, as with ATP binding, occurs via a two-step mechanism. The association rate constant for ADP binding is approximately five times greater than for ATP binding because of a higher affinity in the collision complex (1/K(5b)' = 2.2 mm) and faster isomerization rate constant (k(+5a)' = 366 s(-1)). By equilibrium titration, both heads of a myosin VI dimer bind actin strongly in rigor and with bound ADP. In the presence of ATP, conditions that favor processive stepping, myosin VI does not dwell with both heads strongly bound to actin, indicating that the second head inhibits strong binding of the lead head to actin. With both heads bound strongly, ATP binding is accelerated 2.5-fold, and ADP binding is accelerated >10-fold without affecting the rate of ADP release. We conclude that the heads of myosin VI communicate allosterically and accelerate nucleotide binding, but not dissociation, when both are bound strongly to actin.