Mechanism for nucleotide exchange in monomeric actin

Rabbit skeletal muscle G-actin has been treated to obtain ADP, 1,N6-ethenoadenosine diphosphate (epsilon-ADP), or 1,N6-ethenoadenosine triphosphate (epsilon-ATP) at the nucleotide binding site and either Mg2+ or Ca2+ at high- and moderate-affinity metal binding sites. Apparent rates or rate constants for the displacement of the actin-bound nucleotides by epsilon-ATP or ATP have been obtained by stopped-flow measurements at pH 8 and 20 degrees C of the fluorescence difference between bound and free epsilon-ATP or epsilon-ADP. In the presence of Ca2+, displacement of ADP by epsilon-ATP or epsilon-ADP by ATP is a biphasic process, but in the presence of low (less than 10 microM) Mg2+ concentrations, it is a slow first-order process. At high levels of Mg2+ (greater than 50 microM), low ADP concentrations displace epsilon-ATP from G-actin as a consequence of Mg2+ binding to moderate-affinity sites on the actin. Displacement of epsilon-ATP by ATP in the presence of either Ca2+ or Mg2+ is slow at low ATP concentrations, but the rate is increased by high ATP concentrations. Using ethylene glycol bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, we find that nucleotide exchange is affected differently by the removal of Ca2+ from the high-affinity site compared to Ca2+ removal from moderate-affinity sites. A mechanism for the displacement reaction is proposed in which there are two forms of an actin-ADP complex and metal binding influences the ratio of these forms as well as the binding of ATP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

pH-induced changes in G-actin conformation and metal affinity

Metal-induced conformational changes in actin at 20 degrees C have been investigated as a function of pH using actin labeled at Cys-374 with N-(iodoacetyl)-N'-(5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine. At pH 8, the addition of a high Ca2+ concentration (2 mM) to G-actin gives an instantaneous fluorescence increase while the addition of a high Mg2+ concentration gives both an instantaneous and a slow fluorescence increase. The instantaneous increase is interpreted as divalent cation binding to low-affinity, relatively nonspecific sites, while the slow response is attributed to Mg2+ binding to specific sites of moderate affinity [Zimmerle, C.T., Patane, K., & Frieden, C. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 6545-6552]. The magnitudes of both the instantaneous and slow fluorescence increases associated with Mg2+ addition to G-actin are shown here to decrease as the pH is lowered while the fluorescence of labeled G-actin in the presence of low or moderate Ca2+ concentrations (less than 200 microM) increases. The pH-dependent data suggest that protonation of a single class of residues with an approximate pK of 6.8 alters the immediate environment of the label differently depending upon the cation bound at the moderate-affinity site. The pH-dependent changes in the magnitude of the slow fluorescence response upon Mg2+ addition to Ca2+-actin are not associated with changes in the Mg2+ affinity at the moderate-affinity site but result from protonation altering the fluorescence response to Mg2+ binding. Protonation of this same class of residues is proposed to induce an actin conformation similar to that induced by cation binding at the low-affinity sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The kinetics of cytochalasin D binding to monomeric actin

It has been shown previously, using G-actin labeled with N-iodoacetyl-N'-(5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)ethylene-diamine, that Mg2+ induces a conformational change in monomeric G-actin as a consequence of binding to a tight divalent cation binding site (Frieden, C. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 2882-2886). Using the same fluorescent probe, we show that, subsequent to the Mg2+-induced conformational change, cytochalasin D induces a fluorescence decrease. The data are consistent with a mechanism which proposes that, after Mg2+ binding, cytochalasin D binds and induces a second conformational change which results in overall tight binding of the cytochalasin. The initial binding of cytochalasin D to monomeric actin labeled with the fluorescent probe was found to be 200 microM, and the forward and reverse rate constants for the subsequent conformational change were 350 s-1 and 8 s-1, respectively, with an overall dissociation constant to the Mg2+-induced form of 4.6 microM. The conformational change does not occur in monomeric actin in the presence of Ca2+ rather than Mg2+, but Ca2+ competes with Mg2+ for the tight binding site on the G-actin molecule. Direct binding studies show that actin which has not been labeled with the fluorophore binds cytochalasin D more tightly. The conformational change induced by Mg2+ and cytochalasin D precedes the formation of an actin dimer.     

Purification of an 80 kDa Ca2+-dependent actin-modulating protein, which severs actin filaments, from bovine adrenal medulla

A protein with a molecular weight of 80 kDa, which binds Ca2+-dependently to actin, was purified chromatographically from bovine adrenal medulla by using Sephacryl S-300, DEAE-Sepharose, actin-DNase I Sepharose, and Sephacryl S-200. This protein was retained on an actin-DNase I affinity column only in the presence of Ca2+, and could be eluted from this column by EGTA. The 80 kDa protein is a monomer and binds to G-actin in a Ca2+-dependent manner at an equimolar ratio. It caused fragmentation of actin filaments at more than 4 X 10(-7) M free Ca2+ concentration, as determined by low-shear viscometry and electron microscopy. Saturating amounts of tropomyosin showed a slight protective effect on the fragmentation of actin filaments by the 80 kDa protein. Considering the mode of action on actin filaments, the 80 kDa protein reported here seems to be a gelsolin-like protein. Gel electrophoresis of this protein revealed changes in mobility depending upon the concentration of Ca2+. This result also indicates that the 80 kDa protein itself is a Ca2+-binding protein.     

Effect of pH on the mechanism of actin polymerization

The effect of pH on the Mg2+-induced polymerization of rabbit skeletal muscle G-actin at 20 degrees C was examined. Polymerization data were obtained at various initial concentrations of Mg2+, Ca2+, and G-actin between pH 6 and 7.5. The data were found to fit a kinetic mechanism for actin polymerization previously proposed at pH 8 in which Mg2+ binding at a moderate-affinity site on actin induces an isomerization of the protein enabling more favorable nucleation [Frieden, C. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 2882-2886]. The data also suggest the formation of actin dimers induced by Mg2+ binding is over 2 orders of magnitude more favorable at pH 6 than at pH 8. Little effect on trimer formation is found over this pH range. In addition, the conformation induced by nonspecific binding of metal to low-affinity sites becomes more favorable as the pH is lowered. The critical concentration for filament formation is also decreased at lower pH. The kinetic data do not support fragmentation occurring under any of the conditions examined. Furthermore, as Mg2+ exchange for Ca2+ at a high-affinity site (Kd less than 10(-9) M) fails to alter significantly the polymerization kinetics, Ca2+ release from this site appears unnecessary for either the nucleation or the elongation of actin filaments.     

Divalent cation binding to the high- and low-affinity sites on G-actin

Metal binding to skeletal muscle G-actin has been assessed by equilibrium dialysis using 45Ca2+ and by kinetic measurements of the increase in the fluorescence of N-acetyl-N'-(5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)-ethylenediamine-labeled actin. Two classes of cation binding sites were found on G-actin which could be separated on the basis of their Ca2+ affinity: a single high-affinity site with a Kd considerably less than 1 microM and three identical moderate-affinity binding sites with a Kd of 18 microM. The data for the Mg2+-induced fluorescence enhancement of actin labeled with N-acetyl-N'-(5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine support a previously suggested mechanism [Frieden, C. (1982) J. Biol. Chem. 257, 2882-2886] in which Ca2+ is replaced by Mg2+ at the moderate affinity site(s), followed by a slow actin isomerization. This isomerization occurs independently of Ca2+ release from the high-affinity site. The fluorescence data do not support a mechanism in which this isomerization is directly related to Ca2+ release from the high-affinity site. Fluorescence changes of labeled actin associated with adding metal chelators are complex and do not reflect the same change induced by Mg2+ addition. Fluorescence changes in the labeled actin have also been observed for the addition of Cd2+ or Mn2+ instead of Mg2+. It is proposed actin may undergo a host of subtle conformational changes dependent on the divalent cation bound. We have also developed a method by which progress curves of a given reaction can be analyzed by nonlinear regression fitting of kinetic simulations to experimental reaction time courses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ce~（3＋）与G－肌动蛋白结合引起的构象变化及对聚合的影响

用Ａｅｄａｎｓ标记肌动蛋白单体Ｇ－Ａｃｔｉｎ上Ｃｙｓ３７４残基作为探针,研究了稀土离子Ｃｅ~（３＋）与Ｇ－Ａｃｔｉｎ的结合及引起的微构象变化。Ｃｅ~（３＋）在低浓度（Ｃｅ~（３＋）／Ａｃｔｉｎ摩尔比＜１）和Ｃａ~（２＋）竞争Ｇ－Ａｃｔｉｎ上二价离子的高亲合位点。Ｃｅ~（３＋）取代Ｃａ~（２＋）引起Ａｅｄａｎｓ荧光强度增强与Ｍｇ~（２＋）取代Ｃａ~（２＋）的结果相同。Ｃｅ~（３＋）／Ａｃｔｉｎ＞ｌ则导致Ａｅｄａｎｓ荧光强度下降。说明Ｃｅ~（３＋）在高低两种浓度条件下结合的位点及对Ｃｖｓ３７４的微构象的影响不同。时间分辩测得的Ａｅｄａｎｓ荧光寿命也支持这一结论。ＣＤ谱结果表明Ｃｅ~（３＋）／Ａｃｔｉｎ＜０．４,Ａｃｔｉｎ的二级结构增加,大于０．４又导致其失去。Ｃｅ~（３＋）－Ａｃｔｉｎ在有／无游离ＡＴＰ时用聚合液诱导的聚合结果表明,无游离ＡＴＰ时,极低浓度Ｃｅ~（３＋）促进聚合,高浓度虽有促进但有所减弱;有游离ＡＴＰ时,Ｃｅ~（３＋）／Ａｃｔｉｎ在实验范围内促进聚合。     

Conformational changes in subdomain 2 of G-actin: fluorescence probing by dansyl ethylenediamine attached to Gln-41.

Gln-41 on G-actin was specifically labeled with a fluorescent probe, dansyl ethylenediamine (DED), via transglutaminase reaction to explore the conformational changes in subdomain 2 of actin. Replacement of Ca2+ with Mg2+ and ATP with ADP on G-actin produced large changes in the emission properties of DED. These substitutions resulted in blue shifts in the wavelength of maximum emission and increases in DED fluorescence. Excitation of labeled actin at 295 nm revealed energy transfer from tryptophans to DED. Structure considerations and Cu2+ quenching experiments suggested that Trp-79 and/or Trp-86 serves as energy donors to DED. Energy transfer from these residues to DED on Gln-41 increased with the replacement of Ca2+ with Mg2+ and ATP with ADP. Polymerization of Mg-G-actin with MgCl2 resulted in much smaller changes in DED fluorescence than divalent cation substitution. This suggests that the conformation of loop 38-52 on actin is primed for the polymerization reaction by the substitution of Ca2+ with Mg2+ on G-actin.     

Dependence on Ca2+ and tropomyosin of the actin-activated ATPase activity of phosphorylated gizzard myosin in the presence of low concentrations of Mg2+

Ca2+ and tropomyosin are required for activation of ATPase activity of phosphorylated gizzard myosin by gizzard actin at less than 1 mM Mg2+, relatively low Ca2+ concentrations (1 microM), producing half-maximal activation. At higher concentrations, Mg2+ will replace Ca2+, 4 mM Mg2+ increasing activity to the same extent as does Ca2+ and abolishing the Ca2+ dependence. Above about 1 mM Mg2+, tropomyosin is no longer required for activation by actin, activity being dependent on Ca2+ between 1 and 4 mM Mg2+, but independent of [Ca2+] above 4 mM Mg2+. Phosphorylation of the 20,000-Da light chain of gizzard myosin is required for activation of ATPase activity by actin from chicken gizzard or rabbit skeletal muscle at all concentrations of Mg2+ employed. The effect of adding or removing Ca2+ is fully reversible and cannot be attributed either to irreversible inactivation of actin or myosin or to dephosphorylation. After preincubating in the absence of Ca2+, activity is restored either by adding micromolar concentrations of this cation or by raising the concentration of Mg2+ to 8 mM. Similarly, the inhibition found in the absence of tropomyosin is fully reversed by subsequent addition of this protein. Replacing gizzard actin with skeletal actin alters the pattern of activation by Ca2+ at concentrations of Mg2+ less than 1 mM. Full activation is obtained with or without Ca2+ in the presence of tropomyosin, while in its absence Ca2+ is required but produces only partial activation. Without tropomyosin, the range of Mg2+ concentrations over which activity is Ca2+-dependent is restricted to lower values with skeletal than with gizzard actin. The activity of skeletal muscle myosin is activated by the gizzard actin-tropomyosin complex without Ca2+, although Ca2+ slightly increases activity. The Ca2+ sensitivity of reconstituted gizzard actomyosin is partially retained by hybrid actomyosin containing gizzard myosin and skeletal actin, but less Ca2+ dependence is retained in the hybrid containing skeletal myosin and gizzard actin.     

Phosphorylation by actin kinase of the pointed end domain on the actin molecule.

Fragmin from plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum binds G-actin and severs F-actin in the presence of Ca2+ over 10(-6) M. The fragmin-actin complex consisting of fragmin and G-actin nucleates actin polymerization and caps the barbed (fast growing) end of F-actin, regardless of the concentrations of Ca2+, and the actin filaments are shortened. Actin kinase purified from plasmodium abolishes the nucleation and capping activities of the complex by phosphorylating actin of the fragmin-actin complex (Furuhashi, K., and Hatano, S. (1990) J. Cell. Biol. 111, 1081-1087). This inactivation of the complex leads to production of long actin filaments. We obtained evidence that Physarum actin is phosphorylated by actin kinase at Thr-201, and probably at Thr-202 and/or Thr-203, with 1 mol of phosphate distributed among them. This finding raises the possibility that the site of phosphorylation, Thr-201 to Thr-203, is positioned on the pointed (slow growing) end domain of the actin molecule, because growth of actin filaments from the fragmin-actin complex occurs only from the pointed end. These observations are consistent with a model of the three-dimensional structure of G-actin. Inactivation of the fragmen-actin complex may follow phosphorylation of the pointed end domain of actin.     

Effects of Ca2+ on the conformation and enzymatic activity of smooth muscle myosin

The influence of Ca2+ on the enzymatic and physical properties of smooth muscle myosin was studied. The actin-activated ATPase activity of phosphorylated gizzard myosin and heavy meromyosin is higher in the presence of Ca2+ than in its absence, but this effect is found only at lower MgCl2 concentrations. As the MgCl2 concentration is increased, Ca2+ sensitivity is decreased. The concentration of Ca2+ necessary to activate ATPase activity is higher than that required to saturate calmodulin. The similarity of the pCa dependence of ATPase activity and of Ca2+ binding to myosin and the competition by Mg2+ indicate that these effects involved the Ca2+-Mg2+ binding sites of gizzard myosin. For the actin dependence of ATPase activity of phosphorylated myosin at low concentrations of MgCl2, both Vmax and Ka are influenced by Ca2+. The formation of small polymers by phosphorylated myosin in the presence of Ca2+ could account for the alteration in the affinity for actin. For the actin dependence of phosphorylated heavy meromyosin at low MgCl2 concentrations, Ca2+ induces only an increase in Vmax. To detect alterations in physical properties, two techniques were used: viscosity and limited papain hydrolysis. For dephosphorylated myosin, 6 S or 10 S, Ca2+-dependent effects are not detected using either technique. However, for phosphorylated myosin the decrease in viscosity corresponding to the 6 S to 10 S transition is shifted to lower KCl concentrations by the presence of Ca2+. In addition, a Ca2+ dependence of proteolysis rates is observed with phosphorylated myosin but only at low ionic strength, i.e. under conditions where myosin assumes the folded conformation.     

Formation of actin dimers as studied by small angle neutron scattering

Small angle neutron scattering has been used to study the dimensions of G-actin and the formation of low molecular weight actin oligomers under conditions where rapid polymerization does not take place. In the presence of 200 microM Ca2+, actin in solution consists of a single component with a radius of gyration (Rg) of 19.9 +/- 0.4 A, consistent with the known molecular dimensions of the G-actin molecule. In the presence of 50 microM Mg2+, however, formation of an actin species with a larger Rg occurs over a 4-h period. Multicomponent fits were tried and the data were best fit assuming two components, the monomer and a species with an Rg of 29 +/- 1 A. This latter value is consistent with the dimensions expected for certain actin dimers. The apparent dissociation constant for dimer formation is approximately 150 microM with forward and reverse rate constants of 6.0 X 10(-7) microM-1 s-1 and 8.8 X 10(-5) s-1, respectively. Kinetic fluorescence experiments show that the dimer formed in the presence of low levels of Mg2+ is a nonproductive complex which does not participate in the polymerization process. However, the addition of cytochalasin D to actin in the presence of 50 microM Mg2+ rapidly induces the formation of dimers, presumably related to cytochalasin's ability to nucleate actin polymerization.     

Activation of heavy meromyosin adenosine triphosphatase by various states of actin.

F-actin monomer (F-monomer) is formed upon the addition of neutral salt to G-actin. Since F-monomer has a digestibility similar to that of F-actin and much lower than that of G-actin, it has been proposed that F-monomer has a conformation different from that of G-actin and similar to the conformation of the subunits in F-actin. To examine whether F-monomer will enhance the magnesium-activated myosin adenosine triphosphatase (Mg2+-ATPase) as much as F-actin, the ability of partially polymerized actin populations at equilibrium to activate the Mg2+-ATPase of heavy meromyosin was investigated. Correlations were made between ATPase activities and the polymerization state of actin as determined by measurements of viscosity and digestibility. No significant activation of the heavy meromyosin ATPase was observed under conditions where G-actin or mixtures of G-actin and F-monomer were present. As polymer formation occurred at higher actin concentrations, or with increased KCl concentrations, substantial activation characteristic of F-actin was observed. The data suggest that F-monomer may undergo a further conformational change as it forms nuclei or joins onto polymers. Alternatively, the site of actin which activates the myosin ATPase may involve the crevice between two adjacent actin subunits.     

Interactions of plasma gelsolin with actin. Isolation and characterization of binary and ternary plasma-gelsolin-actin complexes

We have studied the interactions between plasma gelsolin and actin: firstly the complex formation between both proteins, secondly the effects of gelsolin and its complexes on G-actin polymerization and F-actin fragmentation. Complex formation has been studied by high-performance gel permeation chromatography; plasma gelsolin alone elutes at an Mr of about 77000 and a Stokes radius of 3.7 nm; complex formation occurs in the presence of Ca2+: by chromatography in the presence of EGTA, a binary complex is obtained with an Mr of 134000 and a Stokes radius of 4.7 nm; and by chromatography in the presence of Ca2+, a ternary complex is obtained with an Mr of 173000 and a Stokes radius of 5.2 nm. The binary complex is EGTA-stable. In relation to this stability of the binary complex, the depolymerizing function of gelsolin is not reversed upon chelation of Ca2+. The effects of plasma gelsolin and its complexes on both G-actin polymerization and F-actin fragmentation, and their Ca2+ dependence have been examined by viscometry and electron microscopy. The main conclusions of these studies are the following: the fast processes are the formation of ternary complex, which acts as a heteronucleus for G-actin polymerization, and the severing function of gelsolin, these fast processes are Ca2+-dependent; the slow processes are related to the capping ability of gelsolin or its complexes and are Ca2+-independent.     

Dual effect of Ca2+ on ultrasonic ATPase activity and polymerization of muscle actin.

Millimolar concentrations of Ca2+ stimulate actin polymerization whereas micromolar concentrations of Ca2+ depress polymerization. This latter effect leads to a reduction of ATPase (ATP phosphohydrolase, EC 3.6.1.3) activity of actin during sonication at low Mg2+ concentrations and in the absence of KCl. In the presence of KCl (90 mM) there is activation of ATPase activity by micromolar Ca2+ concentrations. These Ca2+ effects are half-maximal at a Ca2+ concentration of 2-10(-7) M. They can be explained by assuming that that ATPase activity is optimal in a medium range of actin polymer stability and that micromolar Ca2+ concentrations tend to labilize and depolymerize F-actin.     

The enhanced ATPase activity of glutathione-substituted actin provides a quantitative approach to filament stabilization

[Cys374]glutathionyl-actin was prepared by isolation of the reaction product of G-actin with Ellman's reagent (5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid], followed by reaction with glutathione. Filaments of this actin disulfide are susceptible to even weak shearing stress as exerted, for example, by heating to 37 degrees C. This treatment produces a 25-fold enhanced steady-state ATPase activity as compared to unsubstituted F-actin at room temperature. Monitoring the reduction of this enhanced ATPase activity is a reliable method for quantifying the effectiveness of filament-stabilizing agents and for determining their apparent dissociation constants. A detailed comparative study of filament-stabilizing agents was performed, and some hitherto unknown filament-protecting effects were revealed. Inorganic phosphate provides stabilization only to a maximum of 45% ATPase inhibition, but reaches this effect already at cytoplasmic Pi concentrations (approximately 4 mM). Arsenate seems to bind with similar affinity, but with distinctly less protective activity (maximum of 16%). High concentrations of alkali ions provide a more effective protection (maximum of 95%), Li+ being more efficient than Na+ and K+. Divalent cations (Ca2+, Mg2+) had a strong stabilizing effect on KCl-polymerized actin; we confirmed the presence of two distinct classes of binding sites for divalent metal ions with moderate and low affinities, apparent in a strong stabilizing effect on KCl-polymerized actin. The stabilizing effects of KCl and Pi are independent and additive. Correspondingly, at K2HPO4 concentrations greater than 4 mM, K+ ions contribute considerably to stabilization. In the presence of 100 mM KCl plus 4 mM Pi, conditions which mimic the physiological environment, filament protection is nearly as effective as with the mushroom toxin phalloidin. The strong stabilizing effect of phalloidin occurred at concentrations far below stoichiometric, suggesting a very high degree of cooperativity in its interaction with actin filaments.     

Effect of temperature on the mechanism of actin polymerization

The rate of the Mg2+-induced polymerization of rabbit skeletal muscle G-actin has been measured as as function of temperature at pH 8 by using various concentrations of Mg2+, Ca2+, and G-actin. A polymerization mechanism similar to that proposed at this pH [Frieden, C. (1983) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 80, 6513-6517] was found to fit the data from 10 to 35 degrees C. From the kinetic data, no evidence for actin filament fragmentation was found at any temperature. Dimer formation is the most temperature-sensitive step, with the ratio of forward and reverse rate constants changing 4 orders of magnitude from 10 to 35 degrees C. Over this temperature change, all other ratios of forward and reverse rate constants change 7-fold or less, and the critical concentration remains nearly constant. The reversible Mg2+-induced isomerization of G-actin monomer occurs to a greater extent with increasing temperature, measured either by using N-(iodoacetyl)-N'-(5-sulfo-1-naphthyl)ethylenediamine-labeled actin or by simulation of the full-time course of the polymerization reaction. This is partially due to Mg2+ binding becoming tighter, and Ca2+ binding becoming weaker, with increasing temperature. Elongation rates from the filament-pointed end, determined by using actin nucleated by plasma gelsolin, show a temperature dependence slightly larger than that expected for a diffusion-limited reaction.     

Characterization of the Ca2+-induced conformational changes in gelsolin and identification of interaction regions between actin and gelsolin

Serum gelsolin, a Ca2+-dependent protein regulating the length of actin filaments, undergoes conformational changes upon binding Ca2+. These were detected and analyzed by several approaches including ultraviolet difference spectroscopy, circular dichroism studies, analytical ultracentrifugation, thiol group titration, and limited proteolytic digestions. The effect of Ca2+ binding on the UV absorption difference spectrum and the near-UV circular dichroism spectrum was consistent with changes in the environments of tyrosine and phenylalanine residues. In the presence of Ca2+, the S0(20),w value decreased from 5.3 to 4.7. This latter result implies a transformation to a more asymmetric molecular shape. Gelsolin contained only two accessible thiol groups per mole of protein, one of which was titratable in the native protein; it was more accessible to 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) in the absence than in the presence of Ca2+. The limited digestion of gelsolin from serum and bovine aorta smooth muscle by two different proteases, chymotrypsin and trypsin, proceeded much faster in the presence of Ca2+ than in its absence with the production of three main fragments of about 40K, 32K, and 21K. This fragment mixture was found still able to shorten F-actin in a Ca2+-dependent manner; this severing activity was expressed by the isolated 40K peptide. Gelsolin was cross-linked to F- and G-actin by the zero-length cross-linker 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-carbodiimide (EDC), generating a covalent 130K binary complex (actin1-gelsolin1) followed by a covalent 180K ternary complex (actin2-gelsolin1).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Covalent complexes formed between plasma gelsolin and actin with a zero-length cross-linking compound

Actin and plasma gelsolin were covalently cross-linked with the zero-length cross-linker 1-ethyl-3-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]carbodiimide. Two major intermolecularly linked products were identified on polyacrylamide gels. By use of 14C-labeled actin and 125I-labeled gelsolin, these were shown to be the 1:1 and 2:1 complexes of actin with gelsolin, respectively. The higher molecular weight complex predominated under all conditions tested including the presence and absence of Ca2+. In titration experiments in which actin at different concentrations was reacted with a fixed concentration of gelsolin, end points were obtained for the formation of both cross-linked species at about two actins per gelsolin, implying that a 2:1 noncovalent complex is cross-linked. In 0.1 mM Ca2+, the extent of cross-linking was independent of protein concentration down to 50 nM gelsolin. At low Ca2+ concentrations (less than 10(-8)M), the extent of cross-linking was very much reduced at micromolar gelsolin and fell to zero at about 100 nM gelsolin. The binding of actin to gelsolin to give a cross-linkable complex is therefore very strong at 0.1 mM Ca2+ but much weaker at low Ca2+ concentrations.     

Role of tropomyosin in smooth muscle contraction: effect of tropomyosin binding to actin on actin activation of myosin ATPase

The binding of gizzard tropomyosin to gizzard F-actin is highly dependent on free Mg2+ concentration. At 2 mM free Mg2+, a concentration at which actin-activated ATPase activity was shown to be Ca2+ sensitive, a molar ratio of 1:3 (tropomyosin:actin monomer) is required to saturate the F-actin with tropomyosin to the stoichiometric ratio of 1 mol of tropomyosin to 7 mol of actin monomer. Increasing the Mg2+ could decrease the amount of tropomyosin required for saturating the F-actin filament to the stoichiometric level. Analysis of the binding of smooth muscle tropomyosin to smooth muscle actin by the use of Scatchard plots indicates that the binding exhibits strong positive cooperativity at all Mg2+ concentrations. Calcium has no effect on the binding of tropomyosin to actin, irrespective of the free Mg2+ concentration. However, maximal activation of the smooth muscle actomyosin ATPase in low free Mg2+ requires the presence of Ca2+ and stoichiometric binding of tropomyosin to actin. The lack of effect of Ca2+ on the binding of tropomyosin to actin shows that the activation of actomyosin ATPase by Ca2+ in the presence of tropomyosin is not due to a calcium-mediated binding of tropomyosin to actin.