Stretching actin filaments within cells enhances their affinity for the myosin II motor domain

To test the hypothesis that the myosin II motor domain (S1) preferentially binds to specific subsets of actin filaments in vivo, we expressed GFP-fused S1 with mutations that enhanced its affinity for actin in Dictyostelium cells. Consistent with the hypothesis, the GFP-S1 mutants were localized along specific portions of the cell cortex. Comparison with rhodamine-phalloidin staining in fixed cells demonstrated that the GFP-S1 probes preferentially bound to actin filaments in the rear cortex and cleavage furrows, where actin filaments are stretched by interaction with endogenous myosin II filaments. The GFP-S1 probes were similarly enriched in the cortex stretched passively by traction forces in the absence of myosin II or by external forces using a microcapillary. The preferential binding of GFP-S1 mutants to stretched actin filaments did not depend on cortexillin I or PTEN, two proteins previously implicated in the recruitment of myosin II filaments to stretched cortex. These results suggested that it is the stretching of the actin filaments itself that increases their affinity for the myosin II motor domain. In contrast, the GFP-fused myosin I motor domain did not localize to stretched actin filaments, which suggests different preferences of the motor domains for different structures of actin filaments play a role in distinct intracellular localizations of myosin I and II. We propose a scheme in which the stretching of actin filaments, the preferential binding of myosin II filaments to stretched actin filaments, and myosin II-dependent contraction form a positive feedback loop that contributes to the stabilization of cell polarity and to the responsiveness of the cells to external mechanical stimuli.     

Recruitment of a myosin heavy chain kinase to actin-rich protrusions in Dictyostelium

Nonmuscle myosin II plays fundamental roles in cell body translocation during migration and is typically depleted or absent from actin-based cell protrusions such as lamellipodia, but the mechanisms preventing myosin II assembly in such structures have not been identified [1-3]. In Dictyostelium discoideum, myosin II filament assembly is controlled primarily through myosin heavy chain (MHC) phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of sites in the myosin tail domain by myosin heavy chain kinase A (MHCK A) drives the disassembly of myosin II filaments in vitro and in vivo [4]. To better understand the cellular regulation of MHCK A activity, and thus the regulation of myosin II filament assembly, we studied the in vivo localization of native and green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged MHCK A. MHCK A redistributes from the cytosol to the cell cortex in response to stimulation of Dictyostelium cells with chemoattractant in an F-actin-dependent manner. During chemotaxis, random migration, and phagocytic/endocytic events, MHCK A is recruited preferentially to actin-rich leading-edge extensions. Given the ability of MHCK A to disassemble myosin II filaments, this localization may represent a fundamental mechanism for disassembling myosin II filaments and preventing localized filament assembly at sites of actin-based protrusion.     

Dictyostelium huntingtin controls chemotaxis and cytokinesis through the regulation of myosin II phosphorylation

Abnormalities in the huntingtin protein (Htt) are associated with Huntington's disease. Despite its importance, the function of Htt is largely unknown. We show that Htt is required for normal chemotaxis and cytokinesis in Dictyostelium discoideum. Cells lacking Htt showed slower migration toward the chemoattractant cAMP and contained lower levels of cortical myosin II, which is likely due to defects in dephosphorylation of myosin II mediated by protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). htt(-) cells also failed to maintain myosin II in the cortex of the cleavage furrow, generating unseparated daughter cells connected through a thin cytoplasmic bridge. Furthermore, similar to Dictyostelium htt(-) cells, siRNA-mediated knockdown of human HTT also decreased the PP2A activity in HeLa cells. Our data indicate that Htt regulates the phosphorylation status of myosin II during chemotaxis and cytokinesis through PP2A.     

Expression in Escherichia coli of a functional Dictyostelium myosin tail fragment

The amino acid sequence of the myosin tail determines the specific manner in which myosin molecules are packed into the myosin filament, but the details of the molecular interactions are not known. Expression of genetically engineered myosin tail fragments would enable a study of the sequences important for myosin filament formation and its regulation. We report here the expression in Escherichia coli of a 1.5- kb fragment of the Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain gene coding for a 58-kD fragment of the myosin tail. The expressed protein (DdLMM-58) was purified to homogeneity from the soluble fraction of E. coli extracts. The expressed protein was found to be functional by the following criteria: (a) it appears in the electron microscope as a 74-nm-long rod, the predicted length for an alpha-helical coiled coil of 500 amino acids; (b) it assembles into filamentous structures that show the typical axial periodicity of 14 nm found in muscle myosin native filaments; (c) its assembly into filaments shows the same ionic strength dependence as Dictyostelium myosin; (d) it serves as a substrate for the Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain kinase which phosphorylates myosin in response to chemotactic signaling; (e) in its phosphorylated form it has the same phosphoamino acids and similar phosphopeptide maps to those of phosphorylated Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain; (f) it competes with myosin for the heavy chain kinase. Thus, all the information required for filament formation and phosphorylation is contained within this expressed protein.     

Expression of Dictyostelium myosin tail segments in Escherichia coli: domains required for assembly and phosphorylation

The assembly of myosins into filaments is a property common to all conventional myosins. The ability of myosins to form filaments is conferred by the tail of the large asymmetric molecule. We are studying cloned portions of the Dictyostelium myosin gene expressed in Escherichia coli to investigate functional properties of defined segments of the myosin tail. We have focused on five segments derived from the 68-kD carboxyl-terminus of the myosin tail. These have been expressed and purified to homogeneity from E. coli, and thus the boundaries of each segment within the myosin gene and protein sequence are known. We identified an internal 34-kD segment of the tail, N-LMM-34, which is required and sufficient for assembly. This 287-amino acid domain represents the smallest tail segment purified from any myosin that is capable of forming highly ordered paracrystals characteristic of myosin. Because the assembly of Dictyostelium myosin can be regulated by phosphorylation of the heavy chain, we have studied the in vitro phosphorylation of the expressed tail segments. We have determined which segments are phosphorylated to a high level by a Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain kinase purified from developed cells. While LMM-68, the 68-kD carboxyl terminus of Dictyostelium myosin, or LMM-58, which lacks the 10-kD carboxyl terminus of LMM-68, are phosphorylated to the same extent as purified myosin, subdomains of these segments do not serve as efficient substrates for the kinase. Thus LMM-58 is one minimal substrate for efficient phosphorylation by the myosin heavy chain kinase purified from developed cells. Taken together these results identify two functional domains in Dictyostelium myosin: a 34-kD assembly domain bounded by amino acids 1533-1819 within the myosin sequence and a larger 58-kD phosphorylation domain bounded by amino acids 1533-2034 within the myosin sequence.     

Functional characterization of vertebrate nonmuscle myosin IIB isoforms using Dictyostelium chimeric myosin II

The alternatively spliced isoform of nonmuscle myosin II heavy chain B (MHC-IIB) with an insert of 21 amino acids in the actin-binding surface loop (loop 2), MHC-IIB(B2), is expressed specifically in the central nervous system of vertebrates. To examine the role of the B2 insert in the motor activity of the myosin II molecule, we expressed chimeric myosin heavy chain molecules using the Dictyostelium myosin II heavy chain as the backbone. We replaced the Dictyostelium native loop 2 with either the noninserted form of loop 2 from human MHC-IIB or the B2-inserted form of loop 2 from human MHC-IIB(B2). The transformant Dictyostelium cells expressing only the B2-inserted chimeric myosin formed unusual fruiting bodies. We then assessed the function of chimeric proteins, using an in vitro motility assay and by measuring ATPase activities and binding to F-actin. We demonstrate that the insertion of the B2 sequence reduces the motor activity of Dictyostelium myosin II, with reduction of the maximal actin-activated ATPase activity and a decrease in the affinity for actin. In addition, we demonstrate that the native loop 2 sequence of Dictyostelium myosin II is required for the regulation of the actin-activated ATPase activity by phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain.     

Effect of heavy chain phosphorylation on the polymerization and structure of Dictyostelium myosin filaments

In Dictyostelium amebas, myosin appears to be organized into filaments that relocalize during cell division and in response to stimulation by cAMP. To better understand the regulation of myosin assembly, we have studied the polymerization properties of purified Dictyostelium myosin. In 150 mM KCl, the myosin remained in the supernate following centrifugation at 100,000 g. Rotary shadowing showed that this soluble myosin was monomeric and that approximately 80% of the molecules had a single bend 98 nm from the head-tail junction. In very low concentrations of KCl (less than 10 mM) the Dictyostelium myosin was also soluble at 100,000 g. But rather than being monomeric, most of the molecules were associated into dimers or tetramers. At pH 7.5 in 50 mM KCl, dephosphorylated myosin polymerized into filaments whereas myosin phosphorylated to a level of 0.85 mol Pi/mol heavy chain failed to form filaments. The phosphorylated myosin could be induced to form filaments by lowering the pH or by increasing the magnesium concentration to 10 mM. The resulting filaments were bipolar, had blunt ends, and had a uniform length of approximately 0.43 micron. In contrast, filaments formed from fully dephosphorylated myosin were longer, had tapered ends, and aggregated to form very long, threadlike structures. The Dictyostelium myosin had a very low critical concentration for assembly of approximately 5 micrograms/ml, and this value did not appear to be affected by the level of heavy chain phosphorylation. The concentration of polymer at equilibrium, however, was significantly reduced, indicating that heavy chain phosphorylation inhibited the affinity of subunits for each other. Detailed assembly curves revealed that small changes in the concentration of KCl, magnesium, ATP, or H+ strongly influenced the degree of assembly. Thus, changes in both the intracellular milieu and the level of heavy chain phosphorylation may control the location and state of assembly of myosin in response to physiological stimuli.     

Two regions of the tail are necessary for the isoform-specific functions of nonmuscle myosin IIB

To function in the cell, nonmuscle myosin II molecules assemble into filaments through their C-terminal tails. Because myosin II isoforms most likely assemble into homo-filaments in vivo, it seems that some self-recognition mechanisms of individual myosin II isoforms should exist. Exogenous expression of myosin IIB rod fragment is thus expected to prevent the function of myosin IIB specifically. We expected to reveal some self-recognition sites of myosin IIB from the phenotype by expressing appropriate myosin IIB rod fragments. We expressed the C-terminal 305-residue rod fragment of the myosin IIB heavy chain (BRF305) in MRC-5 SV1 TG1 cells. As a result, unstable morphology was observed like MHC-IIB(-/-) fibroblasts. This phenotype was not observed in cells expressing BRF305 mutants: 1) with a defect in assembling, 2) lacking N-terminal 57 residues (N-57), or 3) lacking C-terminal 63 residues (C-63). A myosin IIA rod fragment ARF296 corresponding to BRF305 was not effective. However, the chimeric ARF296, in which the N-57 and C-63 of BRF305 were substituted for the corresponding regions of ARF296, acquired the ability to induce unstable morphology. We propose that the N-57 and C-63 of BRF305 are involved in self-recognition when myosin IIB molecules assemble into homo-filament.     

Mutational analysis of phosphorylation sites in the Dictyostelium myosin II tail: disruption of myosin function by a single charge change

The dynamic assembly/disassembly of non-muscle myosin II filaments is critical for the regulation of enzymatic activities and localization. Phosphorylation of three threonines, 1823, 1833 and 2029, in the tail of Dictyostelium discoideum myosin II has been implicated in control of myosin filament assembly. By systematically replacing the three threonines to aspartates, mimicking a phosphorylated residue, we found that position 1823 is the most critical one for the regulation of myosin filament formation and in vivo function. Surprisingly, a single charge change is able to perturb filament formation and in vivo function of myosin II.     

A Dictyostelium myosin II lacking a proximal 58-kDa portion of the tail is functional in vitro and in vivo.

We used molecular genetic approaches to delete 521 amino acid residues from the proximal portion of the Dictyostelium myosin II tail. The deletion encompasses approximately 40% of the tail, including the S2-LMM junction, a region that in muscle myosin II has been proposed to be important for contraction. The functions of the mutant myosin II are indistinguishable from the wild-type myosin II in our in vitro assays. It binds to actin in a typical rigor configuration in the absence of ATP and it forms filaments in a normal salt-dependent manner. In an in vitro motility assay, both monomeric and filamentous forms of the mutant myosin II translocate actin filaments at 2.4 microns/s at 30 degrees C, similar to that of wild-type myosin II. The mutant myosin II is also functional in vivo. Cells expressing the mutant myosin II in place of the native myosin II perform myosin II-dependent activities such as cytokinesis and formation of fruiting bodies, albeit inefficiently. Growth of the mutant cells in suspension gives rise to many large multinucleated cells, demonstrating that cytokinesis often fails. The majority of the fruiting bodies are also morphologically abnormal. These results demonstrate that this region of the myosin II tail is not required for motile activities but its presence is necessary for optimum function in vivo.     

Fluorescence-mediated visualization of actin and myosin filaments in the contractile membrane-cytoskeleton complex of Dictyostelium discoideum

An intact complex that consisted of the cell membrane and cytoskeleton was prepared from Dictyostelium amoebae by an improved version of the method previously used by CLARKE et al. (1975). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA., 72: 1758-1762. After cells had attached tightly to a polylysine-coated coverslip in the presence of a divalent cation, the upper portions of the cells were removed with a jet of microfilament-stabilizing solution squirted from a syringe. The cell membranes left on the coverslip were immediately stained with tetramethylrhodamine-conjugated phalloidin for staining of actin filaments, and with antibody against myosin from Dictyostelium and a fluorescein-conjugated second antibody for staining of myosin. Networks of actin filaments and numerous rod-like structures of myosin (myosin filaments) aligned along them were observed on the exposed cytoplasmic surfaces of the cell membranes. These networks were similar to those observed in the cortex of fixed whole cells. Addition of ATP to these intact complexes of cell membrane and cytoskeleton caused the aggregation of both actin and myosin into several dot-like structures of actin on the cell membrane. Similar dot-like structures were also seen in the cortex of fixed whole cells, and their changes in distribution correlated with the motile activity of the cells. Transmission electron microscopy showed that these dot-like structures were composed of an electron-dense structure at the center, from which numerous actin filaments radiated outwards. These observations suggest that these novel dot-like structures are organizing centers for cortical actin filaments and may possibly be related to the adhesion of cells to the substratum.     

Novel myosin heavy chain kinase involved in disassembly of myosin II filaments and efficient cleavage in mitotic dictyostelium cells

We have cloned a full-length cDNA encoding a novel myosin II heavy chain kinase (mhckC) from Dictyostelium. Like other members of the myosin heavy chain kinase family, the mhckC gene product, MHCK C, has a kinase domain in its N-terminal half and six WD repeats in the C-terminal half. GFP-MHCK C fusion protein localized to the cortex of interphase cells, to the cleavage furrow of mitotic cells, and to the posterior of migrating cells. These distributions of GFP-MHCK C always corresponded with that of myosin II filaments and were not observed in myosin II-null cells, where GFP-MHCK C was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm. Thus, localization of MHCK C seems to be myosin II-dependent. Cells lacking the mhckC gene exhibited excessive aggregation of myosin II filaments in the cleavage furrows and in the posteriors of the daughter cells once cleavage was complete. The cleavage process of these cells took longer than that of wild-type cells. Taken together, these findings suggest MHCK C drives the disassembly of myosin II filaments for efficient cytokinesis and recycling of myosin II that occurs during cytokinesis.     

Myosin II-independent cytokinesis in Dictyostelium: its mechanism and implications

Similar to higher animal cells, ameba cells of the cellular slime mold Dictyostelium discoideum form contractile rings containing filaments of myosin II during mitosis, and it is generally believed that contraction of these rings bisects the cells both on substrates and in suspension. In suspension, mutant cells lacking the single myosin II heavy chain gene cannot carry out cytokinesis, become large and multinucleate, and eventually lyze, supporting the idea that myosin II plays critical roles in cytokinesis. These mutant cells are however viable on substrates. Detailed analyses of these mutant cells on substrates revealed that, in addition to "classic" cytokinesis which depends on myosin II ("cytokinesis A"), Dictyostelium has two distinct, novel methods of cytokinesis, 1) attachment-assisted mitotic cleavage employed by myosin II null cells on substrates ("cytokinesis B"), and 2) cytofission, a cell cycle-independent division of adherent cells ("cytokinesis C"). Cytokinesis A, B, and C lose their function and demand fewer protein factors in this order. Cytokinesis B is of particular importance for future studies. Similar to cytokinesis A, cytokinesis B involves formation of a cleavage furrow in the equatorial region, and it may be a primitive but basic mechanism of efficiently bisecting a cell in a cell cycle-coupled manner. Analysis of large, multinucleate myosin II null cells suggested that interactions between astral microtubules and cortices positively induce polar protrusive activities in telophase. A model is proposed to explain how such polar activities drive cytokinesis B, and how cytokinesis B is coordinated with cytokinesis A in wild type cells.     

WD repeat domains target dictyostelium myosin heavy chain kinases by binding directly to myosin filaments

Myosin heavy chain kinase (MHCK) A phosphorylates mapped sites at the C-terminal tail of Dictyostelium myosin II heavy chain, driving disassembly of myosin filaments both in vitro and in vivo. MHCK A is organized into three functional domains that include an N-terminal coiled-coil region, a central kinase catalytic domain unrelated to conventional protein kinases, and a WD repeat domain at the C terminus. MHCK B is a homologue of MHCK A that possesses structurally related catalytic and WD repeat domains. In the current study, we explored the role of the WD repeat domains in defining the activities of both MHCK A and MHCK B using recombinant bacterially expressed truncations of these kinases either with or without their WD repeat domains. We demonstrate that substrate targeting is a conserved function of the WD repeat domains of both MHCK A and MHCK B and that this targeting is specific for Dictyostelium myosin II filaments. We also show that the mechanism of targeting involves direct binding of the WD repeat domains to the myosin substrate. To our knowledge, this is the first report of WD repeat domains physically targeting attached kinase domains to their substrates. The examples presented here may serve as a paradigm for enzyme targeting in other systems.     

Release of myosin II from the membrane-cytoskeleton of Dictyostelium discoideum mediated by heavy-chain phosphorylation at the foci within the cortical actin network

Membrane-cytoskeletons were prepared from Dictyostelium amebas, and networks of actin and myosin II filaments were visualized on the exposed cytoplasmic surfaces of the cell membranes by fluorescence staining (Yumura, S., and T. Kitanishi-Yumura. 1990. Cell Struct. Funct. 15:355-364). Addition of ATP caused contraction of the cytoskeleton with aggregation of part of actin into several foci within the network, but most of myosin II was released via the foci. However, in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2, which stabilized myosin II filaments, myosin II remained at the foci. Ultrastructural examination revealed that, after contraction, only traces of monomeric myosin II remained at the foci. By contrast, myosin II filaments remained in the foci in the presence of 10 mM MgCl2. These observations suggest that myosin II was released not in a filamentous form but in a monomeric form. Using [gamma 32P]ATP, we found that the heavy chains of myosin II released from membrane-cytoskeletons were phosphorylated, and this phosphorylation resulted in disassembly of myosin filaments. Using ITP (a substrate for myosin II ATPase) and/or ATP gamma S (a substrate for myosin II heavy-chain kinase [MHCK]), we demonstrated that phosphorylation of myosin heavy chains occurred at the foci within the actin network, a result that suggests that MHCK was localized at the foci. These results together indicate that, during contraction, the heavy chains of myosin II that have moved toward the foci within the actin network are phosphorylated by a specific MHCK, with the resultant disassembly of filaments which are finally released from membrane-cytoskeletons. This series of reactions could represent the mechanism for the relocation of myosin II from the cortical region to the endoplasm.     

The myosin filament. XIII. The sensitivity of LMM assembly to Mg.ATP

An LMM fragment (Mr 62,000) of myosin has been prepared which has aggregation properties that are sensitive to the presence of Mg.ATP. Aggregation of the LMM by reducing the ionic strength in the presence of 1 mM Mg.ATP produces non-periodic aggregates which gradually rearrange to paracrystals with a 43 nm axial repeat pattern. This fragment includes the C-terminal end of the myosin rod starting at residue 1376. Therefore, at least one of the Mg.ATP binding sites responsible for this effect is located somewhere along this region of the myosin rod. Although assembly of the rod fragment of myosin into paracrystals does not show sensitivity to Mg.ATP, assembly of intact myosin molecules to form filaments does show sensitivity to Mg.ATP. For myosin filaments, assembly initially gives a broad distribution around a mean length of 1.5 microns, which sharpens around the mean length with time. The rearrangement of the LMM rods and intact myosin molecules both induced by the presence of Mg.ATP are probably related. These findings highlight the complexity of the cooperative interactions between different portions of the myosin molecule that are involved in determining the assembly properties of the intact molecule.     

Structure and function of the cytoskeleton of a Dictyostelium myosin- defective mutant

To study the role of conventional myosin in nonmuscle cells, we determined the cytoskeletal organization and physiological responses of a Dictyostelium myosin-defective mutant. Dictyostelium hmm cells were created by insertional mutagenesis of the myosin heavy chain gene (De Lozanne, A., and J. A. Spudich. 1987. Science (Wash. DC). 236: 1086-1091). Western blot analysis using different mAbs confirms that hmm cells express a truncated myosin fragment of 140 kD (HMM-140 protein) instead of the normal 243-kD myosin heavy chain (MHC). Spontaneous revertants appear at a frequency less than 4 x 10(-5), which synthesize normal myosin and are capable of forming thick filaments. In hmm cells, the HMM-140 protein is diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm, indicating that it cannot assemble into thick filaments. The actin distribution in these mutant cells appears similar to that of wild-type cells. However, there is a significant abnormality in the organization of cytoplasmic microtubules, which penetrate into lamellipodial regions. The microtubule networks consist of approximately 13 microtubules on average and their pattern is abnormal. Although hmm cells can form mitotic spindles, mitosis is not coordinated with normal furrow formation. The hmm cells are clearly defective in the contractile events that lead to normal cytokinesis. The retraction of different regions of the cell can result in the occasional pinching off of part of the cell. This process is not coupled with formation of mitotic spindles. There is no specific accumulation of HMM-140 in such constrictions, whereas 73% of such cells show actin concentrated in these regions. The mutant hmm cells are also deficient in capping of Con-A-bound surface receptors, but instead internalize this complex into the cytoplasm. The hmm cells display active phagocytosis of bacteria. Whereas actin is concentrated in the phagocytic cups, HMM-140 protein is not localized in these regions. cAMP, a chemoattractant that induces drastic rounding up and formation of surface blebs in wild type cells, does not induce rounding up in the hmm cells. A Triton-permeabilized cell model of the wild-type amebae contracts on reactivation with Mg-ATP, whereas a model of the hmm cell shows no detectable contraction. Our data demonstrate that the conventional myosin participates in the significant cortical motile activities of Dictyostelium cells, which include rounding up, constriction of cleavage furrows, capping surface receptors, and establishing cell polarity.     

Myosin heavy chain kinase from developed Dictyostelium cells. Purification and characterization

We purified to homogeneity the Dictyostelium discoideum myosin heavy chain kinase that is implicated in the heavy chain phosphorylation increases that occur during chemotaxis. The kinase is initially found in the insoluble fraction of developed cells. The major purification step was achieved by affinity chromatography using a tail fragment of Dictyostelium myosin (LMM58) expressed in Escherichia coli (De Lozanne, A., Berlot, C. H., Leinwand, L. A., and Spudich, J. A. (1988) J. Cell Biol. 105, 2990-3005). The kinase has an apparent molecular weight of 84,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The apparent native molecular weight by gel filtration is 240,000. The kinase catalyzes phosphorylation of myosin heavy chain or LMM58 with similar kinetics, and the extent of phosphorylation for both is 4 mol of phosphate/mol. With both substrates the Vmax is about 18 mumol/min/mg and the Km is 15 microM. The myosin heavy chain kinase is specific to Dictyostelium myosin heavy chain, and the phosphorylated amino acid is threonine. The kinase undergoes autophosphorylation. Each mole of kinase subunit incorporates about 20 mol of phosphates. Phosphorylation of myosin by this kinase inhibits myosin thick filament formation, suggesting that the kinase plays a role in the regulation of myosin assembly.