Myosin IIIa boosts elongation of stereocilia by transporting espin 1 to the plus ends of actin filaments

Nat Cell Biol. 2009 Apr;11(4):443-50. doi: 10.1038/ncb1851. Epub 2009 Mar 15.

Abstract

Two proteins implicated in inherited deafness, myosin IIIa, a plus-end-directed motor, and espin, an actin-bundling protein containing the actin-monomer-binding motif WH2, have been shown to influence the length of mechanosensory stereocilia. Here we report that espin 1, an ankyrin repeat-containing isoform of espin, colocalizes with myosin IIIa at stereocilia tips and interacts with a unique conserved domain of myosin IIIa. We show that combined overexpression of these proteins causes greater elongation of stereocilia, compared with overexpression of either myosin IIIa alone or espin 1 alone. When these two proteins were co-expressed in the fibroblast-like COS-7 cell line they induced a tenfold elongation of filopodia. This extraordinary filopodia elongation results from the transport of espin 1 to the plus ends of F-actin by myosin IIIa and depends on espin 1 WH2 activity. This study provides the basis for understanding the role of myosin IIIa and espin 1 in regulating stereocilia length, and presents a physiological example where myosins can boost elongation of actin protrusions by transporting actin regulatory factors to the plus ends of actin filaments.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / metabolism*
  • Actin Cytoskeleton / ultrastructure
  • Animals
  • Ankyrin Repeat
  • COS Cells
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Cilia / metabolism*
  • Cilia / ultrastructure
  • Mice
  • Microfilament Proteins / chemistry
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Myosin Type III / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Transport
  • Pseudopodia / metabolism
  • Pseudopodia / ultrastructure
  • Rats
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Espn protein, rat
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Myosin Type III