Design and functional analysis of actomyosin motor domain chimera proteins

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2002 Dec 20;299(5):825-31. doi: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02758-4.

Abstract

To gain more structural and functional information on the actomyosin complexes, we have engineered chimera proteins carrying the entire Dictyostelium actin in the loop 2 sequence of the motor domain of Dictyostelium myosin II. Although the chimera proteins were unable to polymerize by themselves, addition of skeletal actin promoted polymerization. Electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the chimera proteins were incorporated into actin filaments, when copolymerized with skeletal actin. Copolymerization with skeletal actin greatly enhanced the MgATPase, while the chimera proteins without added skeletal actin hydrolyzed ATP at a very low rate. These results indicate that the actin part and the motor domain part of the chimera proteins are correctly folded, but the chimera proteins are structurally stressed so that efficient polymerization is inhibited.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
  • Actins / genetics*
  • Actomyosin / chemistry
  • Actomyosin / genetics*
  • Actomyosin / physiology
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / genetics
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Chickens
  • Dictyostelium
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / genetics*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / physiology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myosin Type II / genetics*
  • Protein Engineering
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / analysis
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Sequence Alignment

Substances

  • Actins
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Actomyosin
  • Adenosine Triphosphatases
  • Myosin Type II