Crystal structure of dynein light chain TcTex-1

TcTex-1, one of three dynein light chains of the dynein motor complex, has been implicated in targeting and binding cargoes to cytoplasmic dynein for retrograde or apical transport. Interactions between TcTex-1 and a diverse set of proteins such as the dynein intermediate chain, Fyn, DOC2, FIP1, the poliovirus receptor, CD155, and the rhodopsin cytoplasmic tail have been reported; yet, despite the broad range of targets, a consensus binding sequence remains uncertain. Consequently, we have solved the crystal structure of the full-length Drosophila homolog of TcTex-1 to 1.7 A resolution using MAD phasing to gain insight into its function and target specificity. The structure is homodimeric with a domain swapping of beta-strand 2 and has a fold similar to the dynein light chain, LC8. Based on structural alignment, the TcTex-1 and LC8 sequences show no identity, although the root mean square deviation between secondary structural elements is less than 1.6 A. Moreover, the N terminus, which is equivalent to beta-strand 1 in LC8, is splayed out and binds to a crystallographic dimer as an anti-parallel beta-strand at the same position as the neuronal nitric-oxide synthase peptide in the LC8 complex. Similarity to LC8 and comparison to the LC8-neuronal nitricoxide synthase complex suggest that TcTex-1 binds its targets in a similar manner as LC8 and provides insight to the lack of strict sequence identity among the targets for TcTex-1.     

The role of the dynein light intermediate chain in retrograde IFT and flagellar function in Chlamydomonas

The assembly of cilia and flagella depends on the activity of two microtubule motor complexes, kinesin-2 and dynein-2/1b, but the specific functions of the different subunits are poorly defined. Here we analyze Chlamydomonas strains expressing different amounts of the dynein 1b light intermediate chain (D1bLIC). Disruption of D1bLIC alters the stability of the dynein 1b complex and reduces both the frequency and velocity of retrograde intraflagellar transport (IFT), but it does not eliminate retrograde IFT. Flagellar assembly, motility, gliding, and mating are altered in a dose-dependent manner. iTRAQ-based proteomics identifies a small subset of proteins that are significantly reduced or elevated in d1blic flagella. Transformation with D1bLIC-GFP rescues the mutant phenotypes, and D1bLIC-GFP assembles into the dynein 1b complex at wild-type levels. D1bLIC-GFP is transported with anterograde IFT particles to the flagellar tip, dissociates into smaller particles, and begins processive retrograde IFT in <2 s. These studies demonstrate the role of D1bLIC in facilitating the recycling of IFT subunits and other proteins, identify new components potentially involved in the regulation of IFT, flagellar assembly, and flagellar signaling, and provide insight into the role of D1bLIC and retrograde IFT in other organisms.     

Differential light chain assembly influences outer arm dynein motor function

Tctex1 and Tctex2 were originally described as potential distorters/sterility factors in the non-Mendelian transmission of t-haplotypes in mice. These proteins have since been identified as subunits of cytoplasmic and/or axonemal dyneins. Within the Chlamydomonas flagellum, Tctex1 is a subunit of inner arm I1. We have now identified a second Tctex1-related protein (here termed LC9) in Chlamydomonas. LC9 copurifies with outer arm dynein in sucrose density gradients and is missing only in those strains completely lacking this motor. Zero-length cross-linking of purified outer arm dynein indicates that LC9 interacts directly with both the IC1 and IC2 intermediate chains. Immunoblot analysis revealed that LC2, LC6, and LC9 are missing in an IC2 mutant strain (oda6-r88) that can assemble outer arms but exhibits significantly reduced flagellar beat frequency. This defect is unlikely to be due to lack of LC6, because an LC6 null mutant (oda13) exhibits only a minor swimming abnormality. Using an LC2 null mutant (oda12-1), we find that although some outer arm dynein components assemble in the absence of LC2, they are nonfunctional. In contrast, dyneins from oda6-r88, which also lack LC2, retain some activity. Furthermore, we observed a synthetic assembly defect in an oda6-r88 oda12-1 double mutant. These data suggest that LC2, LC6, and LC9 have different roles in outer arm assembly and are required for wild-type motor function in the Chlamydomonas flagellum.     

The dynein light chain Tctex-1 has a dynein-independent role in actin remodeling during neurite outgrowth

Coordinated microtubule and microfilament changes are essential for the morphological development of neurons; however, little is know about the underlying molecular machinery linking these two cytoskeletal systems. Similarly, the indispensable role of RhoGTPase family proteins has been demonstrated, but it is unknown how their activities are specifically regulated in different neurites. In this paper, we show that the cytoplasmic dynein light chain Tctex-1 plays a key role in multiple steps of hippocampal neuron development, including initial neurite sprouting, axon specification, and later dendritic elaboration. The neuritogenic effects elicited by Tctex-1 are independent from its cargo adaptor role for dynein motor transport. Finally, our data suggest that the selective high level of Tctex-1 at the growth cone of growing axons drives fast neurite extension by modulating actin dynamics and also Rac1 activity.     

Structure and function of outer dynein arm intermediate and light chain complex

The outer dynein arm (ODA) is a molecular complex that drives the beating motion of cilia/flagella. Chlamydomonas ODA is composed of three heavy chains (HCs), two ICs, and 11 light chains (LCs). Although the three-dimensional (3D) structure of the whole ODA complex has been investigated, the 3D configurations of the ICs and LCs are largely unknown. Here we identified the 3D positions of the two ICs and three LCs using cryo–electron tomography and structural labeling. We found that these ICs and LCs were all localized at the root of the outer-inner dynein (OID) linker, designated the ODA-Beak complex. Of interest, the coiled-coil domain of IC2 extended from the ODA-Beak to the outer surface of ODA. Furthermore, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of how the OID linker transmits signals to the ODA-Beak, by manipulating the interaction within the OID linker using a chemically induced dimerization system. We showed that the cross-linking of the OID linker strongly suppresses flagellar motility in vivo. These results suggest that the ICs and LCs of the ODA form the ODA-Beak, which may be involved in mechanosignaling from the OID linker to the HCs.     

Folding is coupled to dimerization of Tctex-1 dynein light chain

Equilibrium analyses have been performed to elucidate the role of dimerization in folding and stability of dynein light chain Tctex-1. The equilibrium unfolding transition was monitored by intrinsic fluorescence intensity, fluorescence anisotropy, and circular dichroism and was modeled as a two-state mechanism where a folded dimer dissociates to two unfolded monomers without populating thermodynamically stable monomeric or dimeric intermediates. Sedimentation equilibrium and chemical cross-linking experiments performed at increasing concentrations of denaturants show no change in the association state before the unfolding transition and are consistent with the two-state model of dissociation coupled to unfolding. A linear dependence on denaturant concentration is observed by fluorescence intensity and anisotropy before unfolding in the 0-2 M GdnCl, and 0-4 M urea concentration range. This change is not protein concentration-dependent and possibly reflects relief of quenching associated with premelting conformational disorder in the vicinity of Trp 83. The data clearly show that the dissociation-coupled unfolding mechanism of Tctex-1 is different from the three-state denaturation mechanism of its structural homologue light chain LC8. The absence of a stable monomer in Tctex-1 offers insight into its functional differences from LC8.     

Phytophthora nicotianae transformants lacking dynein light chain 1 produce non-flagellate zoospores

Biflagellate zoospores of the highly destructive plant pathogens in the genus Phytophthora are responsible for the initiation of infection of host plants. Zoospore motility is a critical component of the infection process because it allows zoospores to actively target suitable infection sites on potential hosts. Flagellar assembly and function in eukaryotes depends on a number of dynein-based molecular motors that facilitate retrograde intraflagellar transport and sliding of adjacent microtubule doublets in the flagellar axonemes. Dynein light chain 1 (DLC1) is one of a number of proteins in the dynein outer arm multiprotein complex. It is a 22 kDa leucine-rich repeat protein that binds to the catalytic motor domain of the dynein γ heavy chain. We report the cloning and characterization of DLC1 homologues in Phytophthora cinnamomi and Phytophthora nicotianae (PcDLC1 and PnDLC1). PcDLC1 and PnDLC1 are single copy genes that are more highly expressed in sporulating hyphae than in vegetative hyphae, zoospores or germinated cysts. Polyclonal antibodies raised against PnDLC1 locallized PnDLC1 along the length of the flagella of P. nicotianae zoospores. RNAi-mediated silencing of PnDLC1 expression yielded transformants that released non-flagellate, non-motile zoospores from their sporangia. Our observations indicate that zoospore motility is not required for zoospore release from P. nicotianae sporangia or for breakage of the evanescent vesicle into which zoospores are initially discharged.     

Cell-nonautonomous inhibition of radiation-induced apoptosis by dynein light chain 1 in Caenorhabditis elegans

The evolutionarily conserved process of programmed cell death, apoptosis, is essential for development of multicellular organisms and is also a protective mechanism against cellular damage. We have identified dynein light chain 1 (DLC-1) as a new regulator of germ cell apoptosis in Caenorhabditis elegans. The DLC-1 protein is highly conserved across species and is a part of the dynein motor complex. There is, however, increasing evidence for dynein-independent functions of DLC-1, and our data describe a novel dynein-independent role. In mammalian cells, DLC-1 is important for cellular transport, cell division and regulation of protein activity, and it has been implicated in cancer. In C. elegans, we find that knockdown of dlc-1 by RNA interference (RNAi) induces excessive apoptosis in the germline but not in somatic cells during development. We show that DLC-1 mediates apoptosis through the genes lin-35, egl-1 and ced-13, which are all involved in the response to ionising radiation (IR)-induced apoptosis. In accordance with this, we show that IR cannot further induce apoptosis in dlc-1(RNAi) animals. Furthermore, we find that DLC-1 is functioning cell nonautonomously through the same pathway as kri-1 in response to IR-induced apoptosis and that DLC-1 regulates the levels of KRI-1. Our results strengthen the notion of a highly dynamic communication between somatic cells and germ cells in regulating the apoptotic process.     

Identification of a novel light intermediate chain (D2LIC) for mammalian cytoplasmic dynein 2

The diversity of dynein's functions in mammalian cells is a manifestation of both the existence of multiple dynein heavy chain isoforms and an extensive set of associated protein subunits. In this study, we have identified and characterized a novel subunit of the mammalian cytoplasmic dynein 2 complex. The sequence similarity between this 33-kDa subunit and the light intermediate chains (LICs) of cytoplasmic dynein 1 suggests that this protein is a dynein 2 LIC (D2LIC). D2LIC contains a P-loop motif near its NH(2) terminus, and it shares a short region of similarity to the yeast GTPases Spg1p and Tem1p. The D2LIC subunit interacts specifically with DHC2 (or cDhc1b) in both reciprocal immunoprecipitations and sedimentation assays. The expression of D2LIC also mirrors that of DHC2 in a variety of tissues. D2LIC colocalizes with DHC2 at the Golgi apparatus throughout the cell cycle. On brefeldin A-induced Golgi fragmentation, a fraction of D2LIC redistributes to the cytoplasm, leaving behind a subset of D2LIC that is localized around the centrosome. Our results suggest that D2LIC is a bona fide subunit of cytoplasmic dynein 2 that may play a role in maintaining Golgi organization by binding cytoplasmic dynein 2 to its Golgi-associated cargo.     

Rab6 family proteins interact with the dynein light chain protein DYNLRB1

The small GTPase Rab6 is a key regulator in the retrograde transfer from endosomes via the Golgi to the ER. Three isoforms of Rab6 have been identified, the ubiquitously expressed Rab6A and Rab6A', and the brain specific Rab6B. Recent studies have shown that Rab6A' is the major isoform regulating this retrograde transport. Cytoplasmic dynein is the main motor protein complex for this transport. Dynein consists of two heavy chains, two intermediate chains, four light intermediate chains and several light chains, called roadblock/LC7 proteins or DYNLRB proteins. In mammalian cells two light chain isoforms have been identified, DYNLRB1 and DYNLRB2. We here show with yeast-two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation and pull down studies that DYNLRB1 specifically interacts with all three Rab6 isoforms and co-localises at the Golgi. This is the first example of a direct interaction between Rab6 isoforms and the dynein complex. Pull down experiments showed further preferred association of DYNLRB1 with GTP-bound Rab6A and interestingly GDP-bound Rab6A' and Rab6B. In addition DYNLRB1 was found in the Golgi apparatus where it co-localises with EYFP-Rab6 isoforms. DYNLRB is a putative modulator of the intrinsic GTPase activity of GTP-binding proteins. In vitro we were not able to reproduce this effect on Rab6 GTPase activity.     

Primary ciliary dyskinesia caused by homozygous mutation in DNAL1, encoding dynein light chain 1

In primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), genetic defects affecting motility of cilia and flagella cause chronic destructive airway disease, randomization of left-right body asymmetry, and, frequently, male infertility. The most frequent defects involve outer and inner dynein arms (ODAs and IDAs) that are large multiprotein complexes responsible for cilia-beat generation and regulation, respectively. Although it has long been suspected that mutations in DNAL1 encoding the ODA light chain1 might cause PCD such mutations were not found. We demonstrate here that a homozygous point mutation in this gene is associated with PCD with absent or markedly shortened ODA. The mutation (NM_031427.3: c.449A>G; p.Asn150Ser) changes the Asn at position150, which is critical for the proper tight turn between the β strand and the α helix of the leucine-rich repeat in the hydrophobic face that connects to the dynein heavy chain. The mutation reduces the stability of the axonemal dynein light chain 1 and damages its interactions with dynein heavy chain and with tubulin. This study adds another important component to understanding the types of mutations that cause PCD and provides clinical information regarding a specific mutation in a gene not yet known to be associated with PCD.     

Structure-function analysis of dynein light chain 1 identifies viable motility mutants in bloodstream-form Trypanosoma brucei

The flagellum of Trypanosoma brucei is an essential and multifunctional organelle that is receiving increasing attention as a potential drug target and as a system for studying flagellum biology. RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown is widely used to test the requirement for a protein in flagellar motility and has suggested that normal flagellar motility is essential for viability in bloodstream-form trypanosomes. However, RNAi knockdown alone provides limited functional information because the consequence is often loss of a multiprotein complex. We therefore developed an inducible system that allows functional analysis of point mutations in flagellar proteins in T. brucei. Using this system, we identified point mutations in the outer dynein light chain 1 (LC1) that allow stable assembly of outer dynein motors but do not support propulsive motility. In procyclic-form trypanosomes, the phenotype of LC1 mutants with point mutations differs from the motility and structural defects of LC1 knockdowns, which lack the outer-arm dynein motor. Thus, our results distinguish LC1-specific functions from broader functions of outer-arm dynein. In bloodstream-form trypanosomes, LC1 knockdown blocks cell division and is lethal. In contrast, LC1 point mutations cause severe motility defects without affecting viability, indicating that the lethal phenotype of LC1 RNAi knockdown is not due to defective motility. Our results demonstrate for the first time that normal motility is not essential in bloodstream-form T. brucei and that the presumed connection between motility and viability is more complex than might be interpreted from knockdown studies alone. These findings open new avenues for dissecting mechanisms of flagellar protein function and provide an important step in efforts to exploit the potential of the flagellum as a therapeutic target in African sleeping sickness.     

Essential light chain exchange in scallop myosin

The exchange of essential light chains (SH-LCs) of scallop myosin was followed with the aid of scallop SH-LC alkylated with 14C-labeled iodoacetate. More than 70% of the SH-LCs were exchanged in myosin preparations that were desensitized by removal of both regulatory light chains (R-LCs) with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) treatment. Although desensitized myosin solubilized with 0.6 M NaCl or with 10 mM adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) in the absence of salt equilibrated rapidly with SH-LCs even in the cold, exchange in myosin filaments required elevated temperatures. Equilibration of the SH-LCs in desensitized preparations did not depend on ATP or magnesium ions but was significantly accelerated by actin. The desensitized myosin preparations containing alkylated SH-LCs (approximately 1 mol of thiol alkylated/mol of SH-LC) readily recombined with R-LCs. The preparations regained fully the calcium dependence of the actin-activated magnesium adenosinetriphosphatase (Mg-ATPase), contained R-LCs and SH-LCs in equimolar amounts, and had an ATPase activity similar to that of untreated myosin preparations. R-LCs interfered with the equilibration of the SH-LCs. In intact myosin preparations, the exchange of SH-LCs was slow and was frequently associated with the dissociation of the R-LCs. The blocking action of the R-LC on SH-LC exchange agrees with evidence showing that the two light chain types interact and suggests that parts of the SH-LC may lie between the R-LC and the heavy chain of myosin.     

Cytoplasmic dynein plays a role in mammalian mitotic spindle formation

The formation and functioning of a mitotic spindle depends not only on the assembly/disassembly of microtubules but also on the action of motor enzymes. Cytoplasmic dynein has been localized to spindles, but whether or how it functions in mitotic processes is not yet known. We have cloned and expressed DNA fragments that encode the putative ATP- hydrolytic sites of the cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain from HeLa cells and from Dictyostelium. Monospecific antibodies have been raised to the resulting polypeptides, and these inhibit dynein motor activity in vitro. Their injection into mitotic mammalian cells blocks the formation of spindles in prophase or during recovery from nocodazole treatment at later stages of mitosis. Cells become arrested with unseparated centrosomes and form monopolar spindles. The injected antibodies have no detectable effect on chromosome attachment to a bipolar spindle or on motions during anaphase. These data suggest that cytoplasmic dynein plays a unique and important role in the initial events of bipolar spindle formation, while any later roles that it may play are redundant. Possible mechanisms of dynein's involvement in mitosis are discussed.     

Solution structure of a dynein motor domain associated light chain

Dyneins are molecular motors that translocate towards the minus ends of microtubules. In Chlamydomonas flagellar outer arm dynein, light chain 1 (LC1) associates with the nucleotide binding region within the gamma heavy chain motor domain and consists of a central leucine-rich repeat section that folds as a cylindrical right handed spiral formed from six beta-beta-alpha motifs. This central cylinder is flanked by terminal helical subdomains. The C-terminal helical domain juts out from the cylinder and is adjacent to a hydrophobic surface within the repeat region that is proposed to interact with the dynein heavy chain. The position of the C-terminal domain on LC1 and the unexpected structural similarity between LC1 and U2A' from the human spliceosome suggest that this domain interacts with the dynein motor domain.     

Dynein light chain 1 and a spindle-associated adaptor promote dynein asymmetry and spindle orientation

The cytoplasmic dynein motor generates pulling forces to center and orient the mitotic spindle within the cell. During this positioning process, dynein oscillates from one pole of the cell cortex to the other but only accumulates at the pole farthest from the spindle. Here, we show that dynein light chain 1 (DYNLL1) is required for this asymmetric cortical localization of dynein and has a specific function defining spindle orientation. DYNLL1 interacted with a spindle-microtubule–associated adaptor formed by CHICA and HMMR via TQT motifs in CHICA. In cells depleted of CHICA or HMMR, the mitotic spindle failed to orient correctly in relation to the growth surface. Furthermore, CHICA TQT motif mutants localized to the mitotic spindle but failed to recruit DYNLL1 to spindle microtubules and did not correct the spindle orientation or dynein localization defects. These findings support a model where DYNLL1 and CHICA-HMMR form part of the regulatory system feeding back spindle position to dynein at the cell cortex.     

A regulatory light chain of ciliary outer arm dynein in Tetrahymena thermophila

Ciliary beat frequency is primarily regulated by outer arm dyneins (22 S dynein). Chilcote and Johnson (Chilcote, T. J., and Johnson, K. A. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 256, 17257-17266) previously studied isolated Tetrahymena 22 S dynein, identifying a protein p34, which showed cAMP-dependent phosphorylation. Here, we characterize the molecular biochemistry of p34 further, demonstrating that it is the functional ortholog of the 22 S dynein regulatory light chain, p29, in Paramecium. p34, thiophosphorylated in isolated axonemes in the presence of cAMP, co-purified with 22 S dynein and not with inner arm dynein (14 S dynein). Isolated 22 S dynein containing phosphorylated p34 showed approximately 70% increase in in vitro microtubule translocation velocity compared with its unphosphorylated counterpart. Extracted p34 rebound to isolated 22 S dynein from either Tetrahymena or Paramecium but not to 14 S dynein from either ciliate. Binding of radiolabeled p34 to 22 S dynein was competitive with p29. Phosphorylated p34 was not present in axonemes isolated from a mutant lacking outer arms. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by phosphorimaging revealed at least five phosphorylated p34-related spots, consistent with multiple phosphorylation sites in p34 or perhaps multiple isoforms of p34. These new features suggest that a class of outer arm dynein light chains including p34 regulates microtubule sliding velocity and consequently ciliary beat frequency through phosphorylation.