Cell cycle-dependent roles for the FCH-domain protein Cdc15p in formation of the actomyosin ring in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Cell division in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe requires the formation and constriction of an actomyosin ring at the division site. The actomyosin ring is assembled in metaphase and anaphase A, is maintained throughout mitosis, and constricts after completion of anaphase. Maintenance of the actomyosin ring during late stages of mitosis depends on the septation initiation network (SIN), a signaling cascade that also regulates the deposition of the division septum. However, SIN is not active in metaphase and is not required for the initial assembly of the actomyosin ring early in mitosis. The FER/CIP4-homology (FCH) domain protein Cdc15p is a component of the actomyosin ring. Mutations in cdc15 lead to failure in cytokinesis and result in the formation of elongated, multinucleate cells without a division septum. Here we present evidence that the requirement of Cdc15p for actomyosin ring formation is dependent on the stage of mitosis. Although cdc15 mutants are competent to assemble actomyosin rings in metaphase, they are unable to maintain actomyosin rings late in mitosis when SIN is active. In the absence of functional Cdc15p, ring formation upon metaphase arrest depends on the anillin-like Mid1p. Interestingly, when cytokinesis is delayed due to perturbations to the division machinery, Cdc15p is maintained in a hypophosphorylated form. The dephosphorylation of Cdc15p, which occurs transiently in unperturbed cytokinesis, is partially dependent on the phosphatase Clp1p/Flp1p. This suggests a mechanism where both SIN and Clp1p/Flp1p contribute to maintenance of the actomyosin ring in late mitosis through Cdc15p, possibly by regulating its phosphorylation status.     

Importance of a myosin II-containing progenitor for actomyosin ring assembly in fission yeast

An actomyosin-based contractile ring provides the forces necessary for cell cleavage in several organisms [1-3]. Myosin II is an essential component of the actomyosin ring and has also been detected as a "spot" in interphase Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells [4-5]. It is currently unknown if this myosin II-containing spot is important for cytokinesis. In this study, we characterize this myosin II-containing spot using a combination of genetic and cell biological analyses. Whereas myosin II at the actomyosin ring undergoes rapid turnover, myosin II at the spot does not. Maintenance of the myosin II-containing spot is independent of F-actin function. Interestingly, maintenance of this myosin II spot in interphase requires the function of Rng3p, a UCS domain-containing protein, the Caenorhabditis elegans homolog of which has recently been shown to be a cochaperone for myosin II assembly [6]. Disassembly of the spot in interphase prevents actomyosin ring formation in the subsequent mitosis, implying that the spot might represent a progenitor that is important for assembly of the actomyosin ring. Given that mitosis represents a short period of the fission yeast cell cycle, organization of this progenitor structure in interphase might ensure proper assembly of the actomyosin ring and successful cell division.     

Cdc42 antagonizes Rho1 activity at adherens junctions to limit epithelial cell apical tension

In epithelia, cells are arranged in an orderly pattern with a defined orientation and shape. Cadherin containing apical adherens junctions (AJs) and the associated actomyosin cytoskeleton likely contribute to epithelial cell shape by providing apical tension. The Rho guanosine triphosphatases are well known regulators of cell junction formation, maintenance, and function. Specifically, Rho promotes actomyosin activity and cell contractility; however, what controls and localizes this Rho activity as epithelia remodel is unresolved. Using mosaic clonal analysis in the Drosophila melanogaster pupal eye, we find that Cdc42 is critical for limiting apical cell tension by antagonizing Rho activity at AJs. Cdc42 localizes Par6–atypical protein kinase C (aPKC) to AJs, where this complex limits Rho1 activity and thus actomyosin contractility, independent of its effects on Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein and p21-activated kinase. Thus, in addition to its role in the establishment and maintenance of apical–basal polarity in forming epithelia, the Cdc42–Par6–aPKC polarity complex is required to limit Rho activity at AJs and thus modulate apical tension so as to shape the final epithelium.     

PP1-Dependent Formin Bnr1 Dephosphorylation and Delocalization from a Cell Division Site

Cell cycle ends with cytokinesis that is the physical separation of a cell into two daughter cells. For faithful cytokinesis, cells integrate multiple processes, such as actomyosin ring formation, contraction and plasma membrane closure, into coherent responses. Linear actin assembly by formins is essential for formation and maintenance of actomyosin ring. Although budding yeast’s two formins, Bni1 and Bnr1, are known to switch their subcellular localization at the division site prior to cytokinesis, the underlying mechanisms were not completely understood. Here, we provide evidence showing that Bnr1 is dephosphorylated concomitant with its release from the division site. Impaired PP1/Glc7 activity delayed Bnr1 release and dephosphorylation, Bni1 recruitment and actomyosin ring formation at the division site. These results suggest the involvement of Glc7 in this regulation. Further, we identified Ref2 as the PP1 regulatory subunit responsible for this regulation. Taken together, Glc7 and Ref2 may have a role in actomyosin ring formation by modulating the localization of formins during cytokinesis.     

The localization of the integral membrane protein Cps1p to the cell division site is dependent on the actomyosin ring and the septation-inducing network in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Schizosaccharomyces pombe cells divide by medial fission through the use of an actomyosin-based contractile ring. Constriction of the actomyosin ring is accompanied by the centripetal addition of new membranes and cell wall material. In this article, we characterize the mechanism responsible for the localization of Cps1p, a septum-synthesizing 1,3-beta-glucan synthase, to the division site during cytokinesis. We show that Cps1p is an integral membrane protein that localizes to the cell division site late in anaphase. Neither F-actin nor microtubules are essential for the initial assembly of Cps1p to the medial division site. F-actin, but not microtubules, is however important for the eventual incorporation of Cps1p into the actomyosin ring. Assembly of Cps1p into the cell division ring is also dependent on the septation-inducing network (SIN) proteins that regulate division septum formation after assembly of the actomyosin ring. Fluorescence-recovery after-photobleaching experiments reveal that Cps1p does not diffuse appreciably within the plasma membrane and is retained at the division site by a mechanism that does not depend on an intact F-actin cytoskeleton. We conclude that the actomyosin ring serves as a spatial cue for Cps1p localization, whereas the maintenance of Cps1p at the division site occurs by a novel F-actin- and microtubule-independent mechanism. Furthermore, we propose that the SIN proteins ensure localization of Cps1p at the appropriate point in the cell cycle.     

Evidence for F-actin-dependent and -independent mechanisms involved in assembly and stability of the medial actomyosin ring in fission yeast

Cell division in a number of eukaryotes, including the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, is achieved through a medially placed actomyosin-based contractile ring. Although several components of the actomyosin ring have been identified, the mechanisms regulating ring assembly are still not understood. Here, we show by biochemical and mutational studies that the S.pombe actomyosin ring component Cdc4p is a light chain associated with Myo2p, a myosin II heavy chain. Localization of Myo2p to the medial ring depended on Cdc4p function, whereas localization of Cdc4p at the division site was independent of Myo2p. Interestingly, the actin-binding and motor domains of Myo2p are not required for its accumulation at the division site although the motor activity of Myo2p is essential for assembly of a normal actomyosin ring. The initial assembly of Myo2p and Cdc4p at the division site requires a functional F-actin cytoskeleton. Once established, however, F-actin is not required for the maintenance of Cdc4p and Myo2p medial rings, suggesting that the attachment of Cdc4p and Myo2p to the division site involves proteins other than actin itself.     

Thermodynamics of nucleotide binding to actomyosin V and VI: a positive heat capacity change accompanies strong ADP binding

We have measured the energetics of ATP and ADP binding to single-headed actomyosin V and VI from the temperature dependence of the rate and equilibrium binding constants. Nucleotide binding to actomyosin V and VI can be modeled as two-step binding mechanisms involving the formation of collision complexes followed by isomerization to states with high nucleotide affinity. Formation of the actomyosin VI-ATP collision complex is much weaker and slower than for actomyosin V. A three-step binding mechanism where actomyosin VI isomerizes between two conformations, one competent to bind ATP and one not, followed by rapid ATP binding best accounts for the data. ADP binds to actomyosin V more tightly than actomyosin VI. At 25 degrees C, the strong ADP-binding equilibria are comparable for actomyosin V and VI, and the different overall ADP affinities arise from differences in the ADP collision complex affinity. The actomyosin-ADP isomerization leading to strong ADP binding is entropy driven at >15 degrees C and occurs with a large, positive change in heat capacity (DeltaC(P) degrees ) for both actomyosin V and VI. Sucrose slows ADP binding and dissociation from actomyosin V and VI but not the overall equilibrium constants for strong ADP binding, indicating that solvent viscosity dampens ADP-dependent kinetic transitions, presumably a tail swing that occurs with ADP binding and release. We favor a mechanism where strong ADP binding increases the dynamics and flexibility of the actomyosin complex. The heat capacity (DeltaC(P) degrees ) and entropy (DeltaS degrees ) changes are greater for actomyosin VI than actomyosin V, suggesting different extents of ADP-induced structural rearrangement.     

The phosphorylation-dephosphorylation process as a myosin-linked regulation of superprecipitation of fast skeletal muscle actomyosin

The dependence of the onset and course of turbidity changes ( superprecipitation) induced by ATP were studied in a natural actomyosin suspension with the dephosphorylated and phosphorylated forms of light chains (LC2) of myosin. It was found that the onset and time course of the changes in turbidity of the natural actomyosin suspension are strongly dependent on the (phosphorylated and dephosphorylated) form of these chains of myosin. The ATPase activity of actomyosin with phosphorylated LC2 was lower and the half-time for achieving maximal turbidity of actomyosin suspension after addition of ATP was higher than that of actomyosin with dephosphorylated LC2. Natural actomyosin preparations contain endogenous light-chain kinase and phosphatase. The changes of turbidity induced by ATP in the natural actomyosin suspension are greatly diminished in the presence of phosphate. Thiophosphorylation of LC2 of myosin leads to a decrease of the extent of superprecipitation of natural actomyosin. The release of [32P]phosphate from actomyosin containing [32P]ATP-phosphorylated LC2 of myosin increases with increased turbidity of actomyosin suspension. The change of the form LC2 as a kind of additional myosin-linked regulation of superprecipitation is discussed.     

The adenosine-triphosphatase activity of desensitized actomysin

1. A simple procedure involving repeated washings of actomyosin, extracted as the complex from myofibrils (natural actomyosin) at ionic strength less than 0.002, is described for the preparation of a desensitized actomyosin. 2. The Mg(2+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase of natural actomyosin was markedly inhibited by ethylenedioxybis(ethyleneamino)tetra-acetic acid, whereas that of the desensitized actomyosin was unaffected. 3. The activity of the Ca(2+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase of natural actomyosin was generally lower than that of the Mg(2+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase, whereas in the desensitized actomyosin the difference between the activities was considerably less. In both natural and desensitized actomyosin the adenosine-triphosphatase activities in the presence of Mg(2+) were similar. 4. The conversion of the natural into the desensitized actomyosin was accompanied by the removal of a protein fraction containing the factors responsible for the sensitivity to ethylenedioxybis(ethyleneamino)tetra-acetic acid and for modifying the Ca(2+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase. When added to a desensitized actomyosin this fraction effected a reversal to the natural form. The recombination was facilitated by increasing the ionic strength of the medium. The two factors showed different stabilities to heat and tryptic digestion.     

UNC-87 isoforms,Caenorhabditis elegans calponin-related proteins,interact with both actin and myosin and regulate actomyosin contractility

Calponin-related proteins are widely distributed among eukaryotes and involved in signaling and cytoskeletal regulation. Calponin-like (CLIK) repeat is an actin-binding motif found in the C-termini of vertebrate calponins. Although CLIK repeats stabilize actin filaments, other functions of these actin-binding motifs are unknown. The Caenorhabditis elegans unc-87 gene encodes actin-binding proteins with seven CLIK repeats. UNC-87 stabilizes actin filaments and is essential for maintenance of sarcomeric actin filaments in striated muscle. Here we show that two UNC-87 isoforms, UNC-87A and UNC-87B, are expressed in muscle and nonmuscle cells in a tissue-specific manner by two independent promoters and exhibit quantitatively different effects on both actin and myosin. Both UNC-87A and UNC-87B have seven CLIK repeats, but UNC-87A has an extra N-terminal extension of ∼190 amino acids. Both UNC-87 isoforms bind to actin filaments and myosin to induce ATP-resistant actomyosin bundles and inhibit actomyosin motility. UNC-87A with an N-terminal extension binds to actin and myosin more strongly than UNC-87B. UNC-87B is associated with actin filaments in nonstriated muscle in the somatic gonad, and an unc-87 mutation causes its excessive contraction, which is dependent on myosin. These results strongly suggest that proteins with CLIK repeats function as a negative regulator of actomyosin contractility.     

The Precursors Affecting the Composition of Capsaicin and Its Analogues in the Fruits of Capsicum annuum var. annuum cv. Karayatsubusa

The effects of tropomyosin and troponin on the heat-induced gelation of myosin were investigated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, scanning electron microscopy and gel rigidity assay, in comparisons with natural and desensitized actomyosin. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretograms revealed that tropomyosin was almost completely removed from each desensitized actomyosin samples while it was retained in natural actomyosin samples. In spite of this, no significant differences were found in rigidity between natural and desensitized actomyosin gels. No differences could be observed in the microstructure of either actomyosin gel. It may, therefore, be concluded that tropomyosin does not affect the gel texture of the actomyosin system.     

Blebs produced by actin–myosin contraction during apoptosis release damage-associated molecular pattern proteins before secondary necrosis occurs

Apoptosis is a fundamental homeostatic mechanism essential for the normal growth, development and maintenance of every tissue and organ. Dying cells have been defined as apoptotic by distinguishing features, including cell contraction, nuclear fragmentation, blebbing, apoptotic body formation and maintenance of intact cellular membranes to prevent massive protein release and consequent inflammation. We now show that during early apoptosis limited membrane permeabilization occurs in blebs and apoptotic bodies, which allows release of proteins that may affect the proximal microenvironment before the catastrophic loss of membrane integrity during secondary necrosis. Blebbing, apoptotic body formation and protein release during early apoptosis are dependent on ROCK and myosin ATPase activity to drive actomyosin contraction. We identified 231 proteins released from actomyosin contraction-dependent blebs and apoptotic bodies by adapted SILAC (stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture) combined with mass spectrometry analysis. The most enriched proteins released were the nucleosomal histones, which have previously been identified as damage-associated molecular pattern proteins (DAMPs) that can initiate sterile inflammatory responses. These results indicate that limited membrane permeabilization occurs in blebs and apoptotic bodies before secondary necrosis, leading to acute and localized release of immunomodulatory proteins during the early phase of active apoptotic membrane blebbing. Therefore, the shift from apoptosis to secondary necrosis is more graded than a simple binary switch, with the membrane permeabilization of apoptotic bodies and consequent limited release of DAMPs contributing to the transition between these states.     

Dinitrophenylation of rabbit skeletal actomyosin.

Dinitrophenylated reconstituted or natural actomyosin effected changes in the Ca2+ sensitivity which were dependent upon the ionic strength of the reaction medium. Dinitrophenylation of reconstituted actomyosin in 0.6 M KCl led to the incorporation of 2-6 mol of the reagent per 5-10(5) g of protein and it possessed considerable Ca2+ sensitivity. Dinitrophenylated natural actomyosin under the same conditions lost most of its Ca2+ sensitivity when 1.3-5.4 mol of the dinitrophenyl group were bound. The myosin from these modified actomyosins did not lose Ca2+ sensitivity and the myosin was labeled only with 0.4-1.7 mol of the dinitrophenyl group. Dinitrophenylation of both kinds of actomyosin in 0.06 M KCl abolished the Ca2+ sensitivity; the myosin from the modified actomyosins also lost Ca2+ sensitivity. Myosin alone was more susceptible to a loss of Ca2+ sensitivity than myosin in actomyosin. Actin protected the ability of myosin to sense Ca2+ regulated actin in modified actomyosin at 0.6 M KCl but not at 0.06 M KCl. Actomyosin dinitrophenylated in the presence of ATP lost Ca2+ sensitivity. However, the myosin from this actomyosin possessed Ca2+ sensitivity. Thiolysis of the dinitrophenylated actomyosin by 2-mercaptoethanol at low ionic strength did not restore the Ca2+ sensitivity of this actomyosin or its myosin although there was a significant loss of the dinitrophenyl group.     

Modeling myosin-dependent rearrangement and force generation in an actomyosin network

Actomyosin contractility is a major force-generating mechanism that drives rearrangement of actomyosin networks; it is fundamental to cellular functions such as cellular reshaping and movement. Thus, to clarify the mechanochemical foundation of the emergence of cellular functions, understanding the relationship between actomyosin contractility and rearrangement of actomyosin networks is crucial. For this purpose, in this study, we present a new particulate-based model for simulating the motions of actin, non-muscle myosin II, and α‐actinin. To confirm the model's validity, we successfully simulated sliding and bending motions of actomyosin filaments, which are observed as fundamental behaviors in dynamic rearrangement of actomyosin networks in migrating keratocytes. Next, we simulated the dynamic rearrangement of actomyosin networks. Our simulation results indicate that an increase in the density fraction of myosin induces a higher-order structural transition of actomyosin filaments from networks to bundles, in addition to increasing the force generated by actomyosin filaments in the network. We compare our simulation results with experimental results and confirm that actomyosin bundles bridging focal adhesions and the characteristics of myosin-dependent rearrangement of actomyosin networks agree qualitatively with those observed experimentally.     

Gelsolin is Ca2+-sensitive regulator of actomyosin system in platelet

Effects of gelsolin on the actomyosin system in platelet have been studied. MgATPase activity of platelet actomyosin is enhanced up to two folds by 200 nM of platelet gelsolin in the presence, but not in the absence of Ca ion. The half maximum enhancement is observed at the concentration of Ca2+ around 10(-5) M. The effect of gelsolin to enhance the ATPase activity of actomyosin is potentiated by tropomyosin, which is a Ca2+-insensitive actomyosin enhancer. The results indicate that gelsolin may control the activity of actomyosin system in platelets.     

Properties of the calcium-sensitive components of bovine arterial actomyosin.

A calcium-sensitive actomyosin was prepared from bovine aortic muscularis. Calcium binding to this arterial actomyosin was measured using a centrifugation method. The amount of bound calcium necessary for full activation of the arterial actomyosin adenosine triphosphatase was approximately 36 μmol of Ca²⁺/kg of aorta. Calcium stimulation of the actomyosin ATPase could be prevented by lowering the free magnesium from 7 to 1 mm. However, calcium binding to the actomyosin increased slightly with a reduction of free magnesium levels. Positive cooperativity was evident in the sequence of reactions beginning with the binding of calcium and ending with the hydrolysis of ATP. However, there was no evidence for the cooperativity occurring at the initial calcium-binding step.     

Differences between smooth and skeletal muscle myosins in their interactions with F-actin

Myosin and F-actin were prepared from bovine carotid arterial smooth muscle and the properties of the binding of myosin to F-actin were compared with those of the binding of skeletal muscle myosin to F-actin. The following differences were observed between skeletal and smooth muscle myosins. 1. The rate of ATP-induced dissociation of arterial actomyosin was equal to that of hybrid actomyosin reconstituted from arterial myosin and skeletal muscle F-actin, but was much lower than those of skeletal muscle actomyosin and of hybrid actomyosin reconstituted from skeletal muscle myosin and arterial F-actin. 2. The amount of ATP necessary for complete dissociation of arterial actomyosin was 2 mol/mol of myosin, although it is well known that skeletal muscle actomyosin is dissociated completely by the addition of 1 mol ATP per mol of myosin. 3. Arterial actomyosin and hybrid actomyosin reconstituted from arterial myosin and skeletal muscle F-actin did not dissociate upon addition of 0.1 mM PPi, while skeletal muscle actomyosin dissociated completely. 4. In the absence of Mg2+, neither dissociation by ATP nor ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3] activity was observed with arterial actomyosin and hybrid actomyosin reconstituted from arterial myosin and skeletal muscle F-actin. On the other hand, skeletal muscle actomyosin dissociated almost completely upon addition of ATP and showed a considerably high ATPase activity. These observations reveal marked differences between myosins from skeletal and smooth muscles in their binding properties to F-actin.     

Gef1p and Scd1p,the Two GDP-GTP exchange factors for Cdc42p,form a ring structure that shrinks during cytokinesis in Schizosaccharomyces pombe

Fission yeast Cdc42p, a small GTPase of the Rho family, is essential for cell proliferation and maintenance of the rod-like cell morphology. Scd1/Ral1p is a GDP-GTP exchange factor (GEF) for Cdc42p. This study and a parallel study by others establish that Gef1p is another GEF for Cdc42p. Deletions of gef1 and scd1 are synthetically lethal, generating round dead cells, and hence mimic the phenotype of cdc42 deletion. Gef1p is localized mainly to the cell division site. Scd1p is also there, but it is also detectable in other parts of the cell, including the nucleus, growing ends, and the tips of conjugation tubes. Gef1p and Scd1p form a ring structure at the cell division site, which shrinks during cytokinesis following the contraction of the actomyosin ring. Formation of the Gef1p/Scd1p ring apparently depends on the integrity of the actomyosin ring. In turn, recruitment of Cdc42p to the cell division site follows the shrinking Gef1p/Scd1p ring; the Cdc42p accumulates like a closing iris. These observations suggest that Gef1p and Scd1p may have a role in mediating between contraction of the actomyosin ring and formation of the septum, by recruiting active Cdc42p to the septation site.