Intermolecular coupling between loop 38-52 and the C-terminus in actin filaments.

The recently reported structural connectivity in F-actin between the DNase I binding loop on actin (residues 38-52) and the C-terminus region was investigated by fluorescence and proteolytic digestion methods. The binding of copper to Cys-374 on F- but not G-actin quenched the fluorescence of dansyl ethylenediamine (DED) attached to Gin-41 by more than 50%. The blocking of copper binding to DED-actin by N-ethylmaleimide labeling of Cys-374 on actin abolished the fluorescence quenching. The quenching of DED-actin fluorescence was restored in copolymers (1:9) of N-ethylmaleimide-DED-actin with unlabeled actin. The quenching of DED-actin fluorescence by copper was also abolished in copolymers (1:4) of DED-actin and N-ethylmaleimide-actin. These results show intermolecular coupling between loop 38-52 and the C-terminus in F-actin. Consistent with this, the rate of subtilisin cleavage of actin at loop 38-52 was increased by the bound copper by more than 10-fold in F-actin but not in G-actin. Neither acto-myosin subfragment-1 (S1) ATPase activity nor the tryptic digestion of G-actin and F-actin at the Lys-61 and Lys-69 sites were affected by the bound copper. These observations suggest that copper binding to Cys-374 does not induce extensive changes in actin structure and that the perturbation of loop 38-52 environment results from changes in the intermolecular contacts in F-actin.     

Cross-linking constraints on F-actin structure

The DNase I binding loop (residues 38-52), the hydrophobic plug (residues 262-274), and the C terminus region are among the structural elements of monomeric (G-) actin proposed to form the intermonomer interface in F-actin. To test the proximity and interactions of these elements and to provide constraints on models of F-actin structure, cysteine residues were introduced into yeast actin either at residue 41 or 265. These mutations allowed for specific cross-linking of F-actin between C41 and C265, C265 and C374, and C41 and C265 using dibromobimane and disulfide bond formation. The cross-linked products were visualized on SDS-PAGE and by electron microscopy. Model calculations carried out for the cross-linked F-actins revealed that considerable flexibility or displacement of actin residues is required in the disulfide cross-linked segments to fit these filaments into model F-actin structures. The calculated, cross-linked structures showed a better fit to the Holmes rather than the refined Lorenz model of F-actin. It is predicted on the basis of such calculations that image reconstruction of electron micrographs of disulfide cross-linked C41-C374 F-actin should provide a conclusive test of these two similar models of F-actin structure.     

Cofilin (ADF) affects lateral contacts in F-actin

The effect of yeast cofilin on lateral contacts between protomers of yeast and skeletal muscle actin filaments was examined in solution. These contacts are presumably stabilized by the interactions of loop 262-274 of one protomer with two other protomers on the opposite strand in F-actin. Cofilin inhibited several-fold the rate of interstrand disulfide cross-linking between Cys265 and Cys374 in yeast S265C mutant F-actin, but enhanced excimer formation between pyrene probes attached to these cysteine residues. The possibility that these effects are due to a translocation of the C terminus of actin by cofilin was ruled out by measurements of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) from tryptophan residues and ATP to acceptor probes at Cys374. Such measurements did not reveal cofilin-induced changes in FRET efficiency, suggesting that changes in Cys265-Cys374 cross-linking and excimer formation stem from the perturbation of loop 262-274 by cofilin. Changes in lateral interactions in F-actin were indicated also by the cofilin-induced partial release of rhodamine phalloidin. Disulfide cross-linking of S265C yeast F-actin inhibited strongly and reversibly the release of rhodamine phalloidin by cofilin. Overall, this study provides solution evidence for the weakening of lateral interactions in F-actin by cofilin.     

Drebrin-induced Stabilization of Actin Filaments

Drebrin is a mammalian neuronal protein that binds to and organizes filamentous actin (F-actin) in dendritic spines, the receptive regions of most excitatory synapses that play a crucial role in higher brain functions. Here, the structural effects of drebrin on F-actin were examined in solution. Depolymerization and differential scanning calorimetry assays show that F-actin is stabilized by the binding of drebrin. Drebrin inhibits depolymerization mainly at the barbed end of F-actin. Full-length drebrin and its C-terminal truncated constructs were used to clarify the domain requirements for these effects. The actin binding domain of drebrin decreases the intrastrand disulfide cross-linking of Cys-41 (in the DNase I binding loop) to Cys-374 (C-terminal) but increases the interstrand disulfide cross-linking of Cys-265 (hydrophobic loop) to Cys-374 in the yeast mutants Q41C and S265C, respectively. We also demonstrate, using solution biochemistry methods and EM, the rescue of filament formation by drebrin in different cases of longitudinal interprotomer contact perturbation: the T203C/C374S yeast actin mutant and grimelysin-cleaved skeletal actin (between Gly-42 and Val-43). Additionally, we show that drebrin rescues the polymerization of V266G/L267G, a hydrophobic loop yeast actin mutant with an impaired lateral interface formation between the two filament strands. Overall, our data suggest that drebrin stabilizes actin filaments through its effect on their interstrand and intrastrand contacts.     

F-Actin Structure Destabilization and DNase I Binding Loop Fluctuations: Mutational Cross-Linking and Electron Microscopy Analysis of Loop States and Effects on F-Actin

The conformational dynamics of filamentous actin (F-actin) is essential for the regulation and functions of cellular actin networks. The main contribution to F-actin dynamics and its multiple conformational states arises from the mobility and flexibility of the DNase I binding loop (D-loop; residues 40-50) on subdomain 2. Therefore, we explored the structural constraints on D-loop plasticity at the F-actin interprotomer space by probing its dynamic interactions with the hydrophobic loop (H-loop), the C-terminus, and the W-loop via mutational disulfide cross-linking. To this end, residues of the D-loop were mutated to cysteines on yeast actin with a C374A background. These mutants showed no major changes in their polymerization and nucleotide exchange properties compared to wild-type actin. Copper-catalyzed disulfide cross-linking was investigated in equimolar copolymers of cysteine mutants from the D-loop with either wild-type (C374) actin or mutant S265C/C374A (on the H-loop) or mutant F169C/C374A (on the W-loop). Remarkably, all tested residues of the D-loop could be cross-linked to residues 374, 265, and 169 by disulfide bonds, demonstrating the plasticity of the interprotomer region. However, each cross-link resulted in different effects on the filament structure, as detected by electron microscopy and light-scattering measurements. Disulfide cross-linking in the longitudinal orientation produced mostly no visible changes in filament morphology, whereas the cross-linking of D-loop residues > 45 to the H-loop, in the lateral direction, resulted in filament disruption and the presence of amorphous aggregates on electron microscopy images. A similar aggregation was also observed upon cross-linking the residues of the D-loop (> 41) to residue 169. The effects of disulfide cross-links on F-actin stability were only partially accounted for by the simulations of current F-actin models. Thus, our results present evidence for the high level of conformational plasticity in the interprotomer space and document the link between D-loop interactions and F-actin stability.     

Myosin-induced changes in F-actin: fluorescence probing of subdomain 2 by dansyl ethylenediamine attached to Gln-41.

Actin labeled at Gln-41 with dansyl ethylenediamine (DED) via transglutaminase reaction was used for monitoring the interaction of myosin subfragment 1 (S1) with the His-40-Gly-42 site in the 38-52 loop on F-actin. Proteolytic digestions of F-actin with subtilisin and trypsin, and acto-S1 ATPase measurements on heat-treated F-actin revealed that the labeling of Gln-41 had a stabilizing effect on subdomain 2 and the actin filaments. DED on Gln-41 had no effect on the values of K(m) and Vmax of the acto-S1 ATPase and the sliding velocities of actin filaments in the in vitro motility assays. This suggests either that S1 does not bind to the 40-42 site on actin or that such binding is not functionally important. The binding of monoclonal antidansyl IgG to DED-F-actin did not affect acto-S1 binding in the absence of nucleotides, indicating that the 40-42 site does not contribute much to rigor acto-S1 binding. Myosin-induced changes in subdomain 2 on actin were manifested through an increase in the fluorescence of DED-F-actin, a decrease in the accessibility of the probe to collisional quenchers, and a partial displacement of antidansyl IgG from actin by S1. It is proposed that these changes in the 38-52 loop on actin originate from S1 binding to other myosin recognition sites on actin.     

Hydrophobic loop dynamics and actin filament stability

It has been postulated that the hydrophobic loop of actin (residues 262-274) swings out and inserts into the opposite strand in the filament, stabilizing the filament structure. Here, we analyzed the hydrophobic loop dynamics utilizing four mutants that have cysteine residues introduced at a single location along the yeast actin loop. Lateral, copper-catalyzed disulfide cross-linking of the mutant cysteine residues to the native C374 in the neighboring strand within the filament was fastest for S265C, followed by V266C, L267C, and then L269C. Site-directed spin labeling (SDSL) studies revealed that C265 lies closest to C374 within the filament, followed by C266, C267, and then C269. These results are not predicted by the Holmes extended loop model of F-actin. Furthermore, we find that disulfide cross-linking destroys L267C and L269C filaments; only small filaments are observed via electron microscopy. Conversely, phalloidin protects the L267C and L269C filaments and inhibits their disulfide cross-linking. Combined, our data indicate that, in solution, the loop resides predominantly in a "parked" position within the filament but is able to dynamically populate other conformational states which stabilize or destabilize the filament. Such states may be exploited within a cell by filament-stabilizing and -destabilizing factors.     

Structural effects of cofilin on longitudinal contacts in F-actin

Structural effects of yeast cofilin on skeletal muscle and yeast actin were examined in solution. Cofilin binding to native actin was non-cooperative and saturated at a 1:1 molar ratio, with K(d)相似文献   

Structural connectivity in actin: effect of C-terminal modifications on the properties of actin.

In this study, we use fluorescent probes and proteolytic digestions to demonstrate structural coupling between distant regions of actin. We show that modifications of Cys-374 in the C-terminus of actin slow the rate of nucleotide exchange in the nucleotide cleft. Conformational coupling between the C-terminus and the DNasal loop in subdomain II is observed in proteolytic digestion experiments in which a new C-terminal cleavage site is exposed upon DNasel binding. The functional consequences of C-terminal modification are evident from S-1 ATPase activity and the in vitro motility experiments with modified actins. Pyrene actin, labeled at Cys-374, activates S-1 ATPase activity only half as well as control actin. This reduction is attributed to a lower Vmax value because the affinity of pyrene actin to S-1 is not significantly altered. The in vitro sliding velocity of pyrene actin is also decreased. However, IAEDANS labeling of actin (also at Cys-374) enhances the Vmax of acto-S-1 ATPase activity and the in vitro sliding velocity by approximately 25%. These results are discussed in terms of conformational coupling between distant regions in actin and the functional implications of the interactions of actin-binding proteins with the C-terminus of actin.     

Locking the hydrophobic loop 262-274 to G-actin surface by a disulfide bridge prevents filament formation

Models of F-actin structure predict the importance of hydrophobic loop 262-274 at the interface of subdomains 3 and 4 to interstrand interactions in filaments. If this premise is correct, prevention of the loop conformational change--its swinging motion--should abort filament formation. To test this hypothesis, we used site-directed mutagenesis to create yeast actin triple mutant (LC)2CA (L180C/L269C/C374A). This mutation places two cysteine residues in positions potentially enabling the locking of loop 262-274 to the monomer surface via disulfide formation. Exposure of the purified mutant to oxidation catalysts resulted in an increased electrophoretic mobility of actin on SDS PAGE and a loss of two cysteines by DTNB titrations, consistent with disulfide formation. The polymerization of un-cross-linked mutant actin by MgCl2 was inhibited strongly but could be restored to wild type actin levels by phalloidin and improved greatly through copolymerization with the wild-type actin. Light scattering measurements revealed nonspecific aggregation of the cross-linked actin under the same conditions. Electron microscopy confirmed the absence of filaments and the presence of amorphous aggregates in the cross-linked actin samples. Reduction of the disulfide bond by DTT restored normal actin polymerization in the presence of MgCl2 and phalloidin. These observations provide strong experimental support for a critical role of the hydrophobic loop 262-274 in the polymerization of actin into filaments.     

Ca(2+)- and s1-induced movement of troponin T on mutant thin filaments reconstituted with functionally deficient mutant tropomyosin

The deletion mutant (D234Tm) of rabbit skeletal muscle alpha-tropomyosin, in which internal actin-binding pseudo-repeats 2, 3, and 4 are missing, inhibits the thin filament activated myosin-ATPase activity whether Ca(2+) ion is present or not [Landis et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 14051-14056]. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) showed substantial changes in distances between Cys-60 or 250 of troponin T (TnT) and Gln-41 or Cys-374 of actin on wild-type thin filaments corresponding to three states of thin filaments [Kimura et al. (2002) J. Biochem. 132, 93-102]. Troponin T movement on mutant thin filaments reconstituted with D234Tm was compared with that on wild-type thin filaments to understand from which the functional deficiency of mutant thin filaments derives. The Ca(2+)-induced changes in distances between Cys-250 of TnT and Gln-41 or Cys-374 of F-actin were smaller on mutant thin filaments than on wild-type thin filaments. On the other hand, the distances between Cys-60 of TnT and Gln-41 or Cys-374 of F-actin on mutant thin filaments did not change at all regardless of whether Ca(2+) was present. Thus, FRET showed that the Ca(2+)-induced movement of TnT was severely impaired on mutant thin filaments. The rigor binding of myosin subfragment 1 (S1) increased the distances when the thin filaments were fully decorated with S1 in the presence and absence of Ca(2+). However, plots of the extent of S1-incuced movement of TnT against molar ratio of S1 to actin in the presence and absence of Ca(2+) showed that the S1-induced movement of TnT was also impaired on mutant thin filaments. The deficiency of TnT movement on mutant thin filaments causes the altered S1-induced movement of TnI, and mutant thin filaments consequently fail to activate the myosin-ATPase activity even in the presence of Ca(2+).     

Conformational dynamics of loop 262-274 in G- and F-actin

According to the original Holmes model of F-actin structure, the hydrophobic loop 262-274 stabilizes the actin filament by inserting into a pocket formed at the interface between two protomers on the opposing strand. Using a yeast actin triple mutant, L180C/L269C/C374A [(LC)(2)CA], we showed previously that locking the hydrophobic loop to the G-actin surface by a disulfide bridge prevents filament formation. We report here that the hydrophobic loop is mobile in F- as well as in G-actin, fluctuating between the extended and parked conformations. Copper-catalyzed, brief air oxidation of (LC)(2)CA F-actin on electron microscopy grids resulted in the severing of thin filaments and their conversion to amorphous aggregates. Disulfide, bis(methanethiosulfonate) (MTS), and dibromobimane (DBB) cross-linking reactions proceeded in solution at a faster rate with G- than with F-actin. Cross-linking of C180 to C269 by DBB (4.4 A) in either G- or F-actin resulted in shorter and less stable filaments. The cross-linking with a longer MTS-6 reagent (9.6 A) did not impair actin polymerization or filament structure. Myosin subfragment 1 (S1) and tropomyosin inhibited the disulfide cross-linking of phalloidin-stabilized F-actin. Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements with nitroxide spin-labeled actin revealed strong spin-spin coupling and a similar mean interspin distance ( approximately 10 A) in G- and in F-actin, with a broader distance distribution in G-actin. These results show loop 262-274 fluctuations in G- and F-actin and correlate loop dynamics with actin filament formation and stability.     

Ca(2+)- and S1-induced movement of troponin T on reconstituted skeletal muscle thin filaments observed by fluorescence energy transfer spectroscopy

Troponin T (TnT) is an essential component of troponin (Tn) for the Ca(2+)-regulation of vertebrate striated muscle contraction. TnT consists of an extended NH(2)-terminal domain that interacts with tropomyosin (Tm) and a globular COOH-terminal domain that interacts with Tm, troponin I (TnI), and troponin C (TnC). We have generated two mutants of a rabbit skeletal beta-TnT 25-kDa fragment (59-266) that have a unique cysteine at position 60 (N-terminal region) or 250 (C-terminal region). To understand the spatial rearrangement of TnT on the thin filament in response to Ca(2+) binding to TnC, we measured distances from Cys-60 and Cys-250 of TnT to Gln-41 and Cys-374 of F-actin on the reconstituted thin filament by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The distances from Cys-60 and Cys-250 of TnT to Gln-41 of F-actin were 39.5 and 30.0 A, respectively in the absence of Ca(2+), and increased by 2.6 and 5.8 A, respectively upon binding of Ca(2+) to TnC. The rigor binding of myosin subfragment 1 (S1) further increased these distances by 4 and 5 A respectively, when the thin filaments were fully decorated with S1. This indicates that not only the C-terminal but also the N-terminal region of TnT showed the Ca(2+)- and S1-induced movement, and the C-terminal region moved more than N-terminal region. In the absence of Ca(2+), the rigor S1 binding also increased the distances to the same extent as the presence of Ca(2+) when the thin filaments were fully decorated with S1. The addition of ATP completely reversed the changes in FRET induced by rigor S1 binding both in the presence and absence of Ca(2+). However, plots of the extent of S1-induced conformational change vs. molar ratio of S1 to actin showed hyperbolic curve in the presence of Ca(2+) but sigmoidal curve in the absence of Ca(2+). FRET measurement of the distances from Cys-60 and Cys-250 of TnT to Cys-374 of actin showed almost the same results as the case of Gln-41 of actin. The present FRET measurements demonstrated that not only TnI but also TnT change their positions on the thin filament corresponding to three states of thin filaments (relaxed, Ca(2+)-induced or closed, and S1-induced or open states).     

Gln-41 is intermolecularly cross-linked to Lys-113 in F-actin by N-(4-azidobenzoyl)-putrescine.

The bifunctional reagent N-(4-azidobenzoyl)-putrescine was synthesized and covalently bound to rabbit skeletal muscle actin. The incorporation was mediated by guinea pig liver transglutaminase under conditions similar to those described by Takashi (1988, Biochemistry 27, 938-943); up to 0.5 M/M were incorporated into G-actin, whereas F-actin was refractory to incorporation. Peptide fractionation showed that at least 90% of the label was bound to Gln-41. The labeled G-actin was polymerized, and irradiation of the F-actin led to covalent intermolecular cross-linking. A cross-linked peptide complex was isolated from a tryptic digest of the cross-linked actin in which digestion was limited to arginine; sequence analysis as well as mass spectrometry indicated that the linked peptides contained residues 40-62 and residues 96-116, and that the actual cross-link was between Gln-41 and Lys-113. Thus the gamma-carboxyl group of Gln-41 must be within 10.7 A of the side chain (probably the amino group) of Lys-113 in an adjacent actin monomer. In the atomic model for F-actin proposed by Holmes et al. (1990, Nature 347, 44-49), the alpha-carbons of these residues in adjacent monomers along the two-start helices are sufficiently close to permit cross-linking of their side chains, and, pending atomic resolution of the side chains, the results presented here seem to support the proposed model.     

Cofilin and DNase I affect the conformation of the small domain of actin

Cofilin binding induces an allosteric conformational change in subdomain 2 of actin, reducing the distance between probes attached to Gln-41 (subdomain 2) and Cys-374 (subdomain 1) from 34.4 to 31.4 A (pH 6.8) as demonstrated by fluorescence energy transfer spectroscopy. This effect was slightly less pronounced at pH 8.0. In contrast, binding of DNase I increased this distance (35.5 A), a change that was not pH-sensitive. Although DNase I-induced changes in the distance along the small domain of actin were modest, a significantly larger change (38.2 A) was observed when the ternary complex of cofilin-actin-DNase I was formed. Saturation binding of cofilin prevents pyrene fluorescence enhancement normally associated with actin polymerization. Changes in the emission and excitation spectra of pyrene-F actin in the presence of cofilin indicate that subdomain 1 (near Cys-374) assumes a G-like conformation. Thus, the enhancement of pyrene fluorescence does not correspond to the extent of actin polymerization in the presence of cofilin. The structural changes in G and F actin induced by these actin-binding proteins may be important for understanding the mechanism regulating the G-actin pool in cells.     

Interaction of myosin LYS-553 with the C-terminus and DNase I-binding loop of actin examined by fluorescence resonance energy transfer

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments were carried out in the absence of nucleotide (rigor) or in the presence of MgADP between fluorescent donor probes (IAEDANS (5((((2-iodoacetyl)amino)ethyl)amino)-naphthalene-1-sulfonic acid) at Cys-374 or DANSYL (5-dimethylamino naphthalene-1-(N-(5-aminopentyl))sulfonamide) at Gln-41 of actin and acceptor molecules (FHS (6-[fluorescein-5(and 6)-carboxamido] hexanoic acid succinimidyl ester) at Lys-553 of skeletal muscle myosin subfragment 1. The critical F?rster distance (R(0)) was determined to be 44 and 38 A for the IAEDANS-FHS and DANSYL-FHS donor-acceptor pairs, respectively. The efficiency of energy transfer between the acceptor molecules at Lys-553 of myosin and donor probes at Cys-374 or Gln-41 of actin was calculated to be 0.78 +/- 0.01 or 0.94 +/- 0.01, respectively, corresponding to distances of 35.6 +/- 0.4 A and 24.0 +/- 1.6 A, respectively. MgADP had no significant effect on the distances observed in rigor. Thus, rearrangements in the acto-myosin interface are likely to occur elsewhere than in the lower 50-kDa subdomain of myosin as its affinity for actin is weakened by MgADP binding.     

Effect of polymerization on the subdomain 3/4 loop of yeast actin

The Holmes F-actin model predicts a polymerization-dependent conformation change of a subdomain 3/4 loop with a hydrophobic tip (residues 266-269), allowing interaction with a hydrophobic surface on the opposing strand of the filament producing filament stabilization. We introduced cysteines in place of Val(266), Leu(267), and Leu(269) in yeast actin to allow attachment of pyrene maleimide. Pyrene at each of these positions produced differing fluorescence spectra in G-actin. Polymerization decreased the fluorescence for the 266 and 267 probes and increased that for the 269 probe. The direction of the fluorescence change was mirrored with a smaller and less hydrophobic probe, acrylodan, when attached to 266 or 269. Following polymerization, increased acrylamide quenching was observed for pyrene at 266 or 267 but not 269. The 267 probe was the least accessible of the three in G- and F-actin. F-actin quenching was biphasic for the 265, 266, and 269 but not 267 probes, suggesting that in F-actin, the pyrene samples multiple environments. Finally, in F-actin the probe at 266 interacts with one at Cys(374) on a monomer in the opposing strand, producing a pyrene excimer band. These results indicate a polymerization-dependent movement of the subdomain 3/4 loop partially consistent with Holmes' model.     

Interaction of the gonococcal porin P.IB with G- and F-actin

The invasion of epithelial cells by N. gonorrheae is accompanied by formation of a halo of actin filaments around the enveloped bacterium. The transfer of the bacterial major outer membrane protein, porin, to the host cell membrane during invasion makes it a candidate for a facilitator for the formation of this halo. Western analysis shows here that gonococcal porin P.IB associates with the actin cytoskeleton in infected cells. Using the pyrene-labeled Mg forms of yeast and muscle actins, we demonstrate that under low ionic strength conditions, P.IB causes formation of filamentous actin assemblies, although they, unlike F-actin, cannot be internally cross-linked with N,N'-4-phenylenedimaleimide (PDM). In F-buffer, low porin concentrations appear to accelerate actin polymerization. Higher P.IB concentrations lead to the formation of highly decorated fragmented F-actin-like filaments in which the actin can be cross-linked by PDM. Co-assembly of P.IB with a pyrene-labeled mutant actin, S(265)C, prevents formation of a pyrene excimer present with labeled S(265)C F-actin alone. Addition of low concentrations of porin to preformed F-actin results in sparsely decorated F-actin. Higher P.IB concentrations extensively decorate the filaments, thereby altering their morphology to a state like that observed when the components are copolymerized. With preformed labeled S(265)C F-actin, P.IB quenches the pyrene excimer. This decrease is prevented by the F-actin stabilizers phalloidin and to a lesser extent beryllium fluoride. P.IB's association with the actin cytoskeleton and its ability to interact with and remodel actin filaments support a direct role for porin in altering the host cell cytoskeleton during invasion.     

The tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidation of actin Cys-374 is coupled with structural changes in distant regions of the protein.

The susceptibility of monomeric actin to both methionine and cysteine oxidation when treated with the oxidizing agent tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BH) was investigated. The results show that no methionine residue was susceptible to oxidation by t-BH at concentrations of 1-20 mM, while Cys-374, one of the five cysteine residues of the actin molecule, was found to be the site of the oxidative modification. Perturbations in the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and the decreased susceptibility to limited proteolysis by alpha-chymotrypsin and subtilisin of oxidized actin give an indication of some alterations in protein conformation in subdomain 1, and in the central segment of surface loop 39-51, in subdomain 2. Urea denaturation curves indicate a lower conformational stability for the oxidized actin. G-actin structural alterations due to Cys-374 oxidation produced by t-BH result in a decrease in the maximum rate of polymerization, an increase in both the delay time and the time required for half-maximum assembly, a decrease in the elongation rate, and enhancement of the critical monomer concentration for polymerization. The results suggest that oxidation of actin Cys-374 induces structural alterations in the conformation of at least two different distant regions of the molecule. The involvement of both the C-terminus of the actin polypeptide chain and the DNase-I-binding loop in the intermonomer interactions in the polymer could account for the altered kinetics of polymerization shown by the oxidized actin.     

Tropomyosin-troponin regulation of actin does not involve subdomain 2 motions

Dynamic properties of F-actin structure prompted suggestions (Squire, J. M., and Morris, E. P. (1998) FASEB J. 12, 761-771) that actin subdomain 2 movements play a role in thin-filament regulation. Using fluorescently labeled yeast actin mutants Q41C, Q41C/C374S, and D51C/C374S and azidonitrophenyl putrescine (ANP) Gln(41)-labeled alpha-actin, we monitored regulation-linked changes in subdomain 2. These actins had fully regulated acto-S1 ATPase activities, and emission spectra of regulated Q41C(AEDANS)/C374S and D51C(AEDANS)/C374S filaments did not reveal any calcium-dependent changes. Fluorescence energy transfer in these F-actins mostly occurred from Trp(340) and Trp(356) to 5-(2((acetyl)amino)ethyl)amino-naphthalene-1-sulfonate (AEDANS)-labeled Cys(41) or Cys(51) of adjacent same strand protomers. Our results show that fluorescence energy transfer between these residues is similar in the mostly blocked (-Ca(2+)) and closed (+Ca(2+)) states. Ca(2+) also had no effect on the excimer band in the pyrene-labeled Q41C-regulated actin, indicating virtually no change in the overlap of pyrenes on Cys(41) and Cys(374). ANP quenching of rhodamine phalloidin fluorescence showed that neither Ca(2+) nor S1 binding to regulated alpha-actin affects the phalloidin-probe distance. Taken together, our results indicate that transitions between the blocked, closed, and open regulatory states involve no significant subdomain 2 movements, and, since the cross-linked alpha-actin remains fully regulated, that subdomain 2 motions are not essential for actin regulation.