The N-terminal domain of MYO18A has an ATP-insensitive actin-binding site

Biochemistry. 2005 Apr 26;44(16):6190-6. doi: 10.1021/bi0475931.

Abstract

Myosin XVIII is the recently identified 18th class of myosins, and its members are composed of a unique N-terminal domain, a motor domain with an unusual sequence around the ATPase site, one IQ motif, a segmented coiled-coil region for dimerization, and a C-terminal globular tail. To gain insight into the functions of this unique myosin, we characterized its human homologue, MYO18A, focusing on the functional roles of the characteristic N-terminal domain that contains a PDZ module known to mediate protein-protein interaction. GFP-tagged full-length and C-terminally truncated MYO18A molecules that were expressed in HeLa cells exhibited colocalization with actin filaments. Chemical cross-linking of these molecules showed that they form stable dimers as expected from their putative coiled-coil tails. Cosedimentation of the various types of truncated MYO18A constructs with actin filaments indicated the presence of an ATP-insensitive actin-binding site in the N-terminal domain. Further studies on truncated constructs of the N-terminal domain indicated that this actin-binding site is located outside the PDZ module, but within the middle region of this domain, which does not show any homology with the known actin-binding motifs. These results imply that this dimeric myosin might stably cross-link actin filaments by two ATP-insensitive actin-binding sites at the N-terminal domains for higher-order organization of the actin cytoskeleton.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites / genetics
  • DNA / genetics
  • Dimerization
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Myosins / chemistry*
  • Myosins / genetics
  • Myosins / metabolism*
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Subcellular Fractions / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • DNA
  • Myosins