The UNC-45 chaperone mediates sarcomere assembly through myosin degradation in Caenorhabditis elegans

J Cell Biol. 2007 Apr 23;177(2):205-10. doi: 10.1083/jcb.200607084. Epub 2007 Apr 16.

Abstract

Myosin motors are central to diverse cellular processes in eukaryotes. Homologues of the myosin chaperone UNC-45 have been implicated in the assembly and function of myosin-containing structures in organisms from fungi to humans. In muscle, the assembly of sarcomeric myosin is regulated to produce stable, uniform thick filaments. Loss-of-function mutations in Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-45 lead to decreased muscle myosin accumulation and defective thick filament assembly, resulting in paralyzed animals. We report that transgenic worms overexpressing UNC-45 also display defects in myosin assembly, with decreased myosin content and a mild paralysis phenotype. We find that the reduced myosin accumulation is the result of degradation through the ubiquitin/proteasome system. Partial proteasome inhibition is able to restore myosin protein and worm motility to nearly wild-type levels. These findings suggest a mechanism in which UNC-45-related proteins may contribute to the degradation of myosin in conditions such as heart failure and muscle wasting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / chemistry
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism*
  • Molecular Chaperones / genetics
  • Molecular Chaperones / metabolism*
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Muscular Diseases / metabolism
  • Myosins / metabolism*
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex / metabolism
  • Sarcomeres / metabolism*
  • Ubiquitin / metabolism

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Molecular Chaperones
  • Ubiquitin
  • unc-45 protein, C elegans
  • Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex
  • Myosins