Myosin polymerization

In the inflammatory response the cellular component can be said to begin with directed migration of phagocytic cells, both polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN s) and mononuclear monocytes (MC s) and macrophages (HP s). This process is termed chemotaxis and depends upon signals received at the cell surface which are translated into cellular motility dependent upon actin/myosin polymerization near the cell membrane (Stossel, 1975). In PEM patients in both Peru (Freyre et al., 1973) and Thailand (Kulapongs et al.,... 

Certain proteins endow cells with unique capabilities for movement. Cell division, muscle contraction, and cell motility represent some of the ways in which cells execute motion. The contractile and motile proteins underlying these motions share a common property they are filamentous or polymerize to form filaments. Examples include actin and myosin, the filamentous proteins forming the contractile systems of cells, and tubulin, the major component of microtubules (the filaments involved in the mitotic spindle of cell division as well as in flagella and cilia). Another class of proteins involved in movement includes dynein and kinesin, so-called motor proteins that drive the movement of vesicles, granules, and organelles along microtubules serving as established cytoskeletal tracks. ... 

Dynein, kinesin, and myosin are motor proteins with ATPase activity that convert the chemical bond energy released by ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work. Each motor molecule reacts cyclically with a polymerized cytoskeletal filament in this chemomechanical transduction process. The motor protein first binds to the filament and then undergoes a conformational change that produces an increment of movement, known as the power stroke. The motor protein then releases its hold on the filament before reattaching at a new site to begin another cycle. Events in the mechanical cycle are believed to depend on intermediate steps in the ATPase cycle. Cytoplasmic dynein and kinesin walk (albeit in opposite... 

The myosin head has long been shown to induce, even in low ionic strength buffers, polymerization of G-actin into decorated F-actin-S i filaments that exhibit the classical arrowhead structure (Miller et al., 1988 and older references therein). However, to date, the molecular mechanism of this polymerization process remains unknown. 

In an effort to understand how actin-actin interactions might be affected by the binding of the myosin head, and in order to gain more insight into the nature of the actin-myosin interface, we have investigated the nature of the kinetic actin-myosin intermediates involved in the process of S)-induced polymerization of G-actin. For this purpose, a variety of fluorescent probes (e.g., pyrene, NBD, AEDANS) have been covalently attached to the C-terminus of G-actin to probe the G-actin-S] interaction under conditions of tightest binding, i.e., in the absence of ATP. 

Fievez, S. Carlier, M.-F. (1993). Conformational changes in subdomain-2 of G-actin upon polymerization into F-actin and upon binding myosin subfragment-1. FEES Lett. 316, 186-190. 

Miller, L., Phillips, M Reisler, E. (1988). Polymerization of G-actin by myosin subfragment-1. J. Biol. Chem. 263, 1996-2002. 

Valentin-Ranc, C. Carlier, M.-F. (1992). Characterization of oligomers as kinetic inteimediates in myosin subfragment-1 induced polymerization of G-actin. J. Biol. Chem. 267,21543-21550. 

Just as myosins are able to move along microfilaments, there are motor proteins that move along microtubules. Microtubules, like microfilaments, are polar polymeric assemblies, but unlike actin-myosin interactions, microtubule-based motors exist that move along microtubules in either direction. A constant traffic of vesicles and organelles is visible in cultured cells especially using time-lapse photography. The larger part of this movement takes place on micrombules and is stimulated by phorbol ester (an activator of protein kinase C), and over-expression of N-J aj oncoprotein (Alexandrova et al., 1993). 

Actin is a 42 kDa bent dumbbell-shaped globular monomer which is found in most eukaryotic cells. It is the primary protein of the thin (or actin) filaments. Also, by mass or molarity, actin is the largest constituent of the contractile apparatus, actually reaching millimolar concentrations. Actins from different sources seem to be more similar than myosins from the same sources. Actin binds ATP which is hydrolyzed to ADP, if the monomeric actin polymerizes. The backbone structure of the actin filament is a helix formed by two linear strands of polymerized actins like two strings of actin beads entwined. 

Miki M, Dosremedios CG (1988) Fluorescence quenching studies of fluorescein attached to Lys-61 or Cys-374 in actin effects of polymerization, myosin subfragment-1 binding, and tropomyosin-troponin binding. J Biochem Tokyo 104 232-235... 

Actin filaments are the thinnest of the cytoskeletal filaments, and therefore also called microfilaments. Polymerized actin monomers form long, thin fibers of about 8 nm in diameter. Along with the above-mentioned function of the cytoskeleton, actin interacts with myosin ( thick ) filaments in skeletal muscle fibers to provide the force of muscular contraction. Actin/Myosin interactions also help produce cytoplasmic streaming in most cells. 

Movement. The interaction between actin and myosin is responsible for muscle contraction and cell movement (see p.332). Myosin (right), with a length of over 150 nm, is among the largest proteins there are. Actin filaments (F-actin) arise due to the polymerization of relatively small protein subunits (G-actin). Along with other proteins, tropomyosin, which is associated with F-actin, controls contraction. 

The work that follows pertains primarily to actin networks. Many proteins within a cell are known to associate with actin. Among these are molecules which can initiate or terminate polymerization, intercalate with and cut chains, crosslink or bundle filaments, or induce network contraction (i.e., myosin) (A,11,12). The central concern of this paper is an exploration of the way that such molecular species interact to form complex networks. Ultimately we wish to elucidate the biophysical linkages between molecular properties and cellular function (like locomotion and shape differentiation) in which cytoskeletal structures are essential attributes. Here, however, we examine the iri vitro formation of cytoplasmic gels, with an emphasis on delineating quantitative assays for network constituents. Specific attention is given to gel volume assays, determinations of gelation times, and elasticity measurements. 

Platelets can be activated by a variety of agents including the physiologic agonists ADP, thromboxane A2, epinephrine, collagen, and thrombin. Platelet activation is generally associated with a change in platelet shape (except for epinephrine-induced platelet activation) from discs to spiny spheres with pseudopodia. Platelet pseudopod formation is dependent on actin polymerization in the activated platelets. The interaction of actin filaments with myosin, mediated by calcium (9), facilitates platelet contractile activity (e.g., clot retraction). 

Alterations in the cytoskeleton. The cytoskeleton depends on the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which affects actin bundles, the interactions between actin and myosin and a-tubulin polymerization. The effect of increases in Ca2+ on the cytoskeletal attachments to the plasma membrane and the role of the cytoskeleton in cellular integrity have already been mentioned (see above). If the cytoskeleton is damaged or disrupted or its function altered by an increase in Ca2+, then blebs or protrusions appear on the plasma membrane (see below). As well as an increase in Ca2+, oxidation of, or reaction with sulfydryl groups, such as alkylation or arylation, for example, may disrupt the cytoskeleton, as thiols... 

---