蛋白质磷酸化对肌动球蛋白解离及其乙酰化水平的影响

[目的]研究肌球蛋白重链和肌动蛋白磷酸化对其乙酰化水平、肌动球蛋白解离及ATP酶活性的影响,为通过调控磷酸化水平改善肉品嫩度提供理论依据.[方法]以羊背最长肌为材料制备肌肉匀浆液,采用碱性磷酸酶抑制剂(抑制去磷酸化)和蛋白激酶抑制剂(抑制磷酸化)调控其磷酸化水平,在4℃分别孵育0、0.5、4、12、24、48和72 h...     

Engineering cooperativity in biomotor-protein assemblies

A biosynthetic approach was developed to control and probe cooperativity in multiunit biomotor assemblies by linking molecular motors to artificial protein scaffolds. This approach provides precise control over spatial and elastic coupling between motors. Cooperative interactions between monomeric kinesin-1 motors attached to protein scaffolds enhance hydrolysis activity and microtubule gliding velocity. However, these interactions are not influenced by changes in the elastic properties of the scaffold, distinguishing multimotor transport from that powered by unorganized monomeric motors. These results highlight the role of supramolecular architecture in determining mechanisms of collective transport.     

The way things move: looking under the hood of molecular motor proteins

The microtubule-based kinesin motors and actin-based myosin motors generate motions associated with intracellular trafficking, cell division, and muscle contraction. Early studies suggested that these molecular motors work by very different mechanisms. Recently, however, it has become clear that kinesin and myosin share a common core structure and convert energy from adenosine triphosphate into protein motion using a similar conformational change strategy. Many different types of mechanical amplifiers have evolved that operate in conjunction with the conserved core. This modular design has given rise to a remarkable diversity of kinesin and myosin motors whose motile properties are optimized for performing distinct biological functions.     

Control of myocardial contraction: the sensitivity of cardiac actomyosin to calcium ion

The control by calcium ion of the adenosine triphosphatase activity of cardiac actomyosin is similar to that of white skeletal actomyosin. This finding indicates that the slower contraction and relaxation of heart muscle do not reflect different levels to which free calcium ion concentration around the myofibrils must be adjusted during contraction and relaxation and suggests a mechanism whereby myocardial contractility may be regulated.     

CYK-4/GAP provides a localized cue to initiate anteroposterior polarity upon fertilization

The Caenorhabditis elegans anteroposterior axis is established in response to fertilization by sperm. Here we present evidence that RhoA, the guanine nucleotide-exchange factor ECT-2, and the Rho guanosine triphosphatase-activating protein CYK-4 modulate myosin light-chain activity to create a gradient of actomyosin, which establishes the anterior domain. CYK-4 is enriched within sperm, and paternally donated CYK-4 is required for polarity. These data suggest that CYK-4 provides a molecular link between fertilization and polarity establishment in the one-cell embryo. Orthologs of CYK-4 are expressed in sperm of other species, which suggests that this cue may be evolutionarily conserved.     

Sequence-directed DNA translocation by purified FtsK

DNA translocases are molecular motors that move rapidly along DNA using adenosine triphosphate as the source of energy. We directly observed the movement of purified FtsK, an Escherichia coli translocase, on single DNA molecules. The protein moves at 5 kilobases per second and against forces up to 60 piconewtons, and locally reverses direction without dissociation. On three natural substrates, independent of its initial binding position, FtsK efficiently translocates over long distances to the terminal region of the E. coli chromosome, as it does in vivo. Our results imply that FtsK is a bidirectional motor that changes direction in response to short, asymmetric directing DNA sequences.     

Heat inactivation of the relaxing site of actomyosin: prevention and reversal with dithiothreitol

Adenosine triphosphate and magnesium (MgATP) inhibit contraction by binding to a specific relaxing site on natural actomyosin gel. This inhibitory control site is distinct from the active sites where MgATP causes contraction.In high concentrations of MgATP, calcium triggers contraction by releasing the protein from substrate inhibition, allowing the contractile reactions to occur. Heating the protein for 5 minutes at 43 degrees C selectively inactivates the relaxing site. After this treatment, actomyosin with MgATP contracts as well without calcium as with it. That this effect of heat is prevented and reversed by dithiothreitol (an agent that reduces disulfide bonds) indicates that the structure of the relaxing site depends on certain labile sulfhydryl groups, which may be those of tropomyosin. When these are oxidized to disulfide bonds, the site loses its activity; when the disulfide bonds are reduced, the site regains its activity.     

Actin network architecture can determine myosin motor activity

The organization of actin filaments into higher-ordered structures governs eukaryotic cell shape and movement. Global actin network size and architecture are maintained in a dynamic steady state through regulated assembly and disassembly. Here, we used experimentally defined actin structures in vitro to investigate how the activity of myosin motors depends on network architecture. Direct visualization of filaments revealed myosin-induced actin network deformation. During this reorganization, myosins selectively contracted and disassembled antiparallel actin structures, while parallel actin bundles remained unaffected. The local distribution of nucleation sites and the resulting orientation of actin filaments appeared to regulate the scalability of the contraction process. This "orientation selection" mechanism for selective contraction and disassembly suggests how the dynamics of the cellular actin cytoskeleton can be spatially controlled by actomyosin contractility.     

Phosphorylation of myosin light chains in mouse fast-twitch muscle associated with reduced actomyosin turnover rate

Phosphorylation of the 18,000-dalton light chains of the fast-twitch myosin in mouse extensor digitorum longus muscles was correlated with reduction in the rate of the actomyosin adenosinetriphosphatase in vivo, but neither of these changes occurred in the soleus muscle. These results suggest that actomyosin interactions can be down-regulated by a reversible covalent modification of myosin light chains, that a mechanism for thick-filament regulation occurs in vertebrate skeletal muscle, and that the expression of this regulation may be limited to a specific fiber type.     

宰后肌肉中肌球蛋白磷酸化调控肌动球蛋白解离作用机制

【目的】研究宰后肌肉中肌球蛋白磷酸化与肌动球蛋白解离之间的关系,分析其磷酸化水平的变化对肌动球蛋白解离的影响,探究肌球蛋白磷酸化对宰后肌肉肌节长度与嫩度的作用。【方法】取宰后30 min内的羊背最长肌,在4℃条件下分别成熟6、24、48和72 h,通过SDS-PAGE电泳、Pro-Q染色和蛋白质免疫印迹测定肌球蛋白的磷酸化水平和肌动球蛋白解离程度随宰后时间的变化;测定肌动球蛋白ATP酶的活性,分析宰后不同时间点肌球蛋白与肌动蛋白结合作用力的强弱;采用透射电镜分析宰后肌节长度随时间的变化。【结果】研究发现宰后肌肉中肌球蛋白轻链2的磷酸化水平在0.5—48 h快速降低(P0.05),并在48 h达到最低点,在48—72 h有所升高(P0.05),但其最终磷酸化水平明显低于初始值。肌动球蛋白的解离程度在宰后初期(0.5—6 h)显著降低(P0.05),在6—48 h显著升高(P0.05),并于48—72 h维持稳定,其最终解离程度显著高于宰后0.5 h的初始值。肌动球蛋白ATPase活性在宰后初期(0.5—6 h)略有升高,6—24 h快速上升(P0.05),并在24 h达到最高点,24—72 h逐渐降低;而肌节长度的变化则与之相反,呈先下降后上升的趋势,并在24 h达到肌节最短点。【结论】羊宰后肌肉中的肌球蛋白轻链2磷酸化水平的变化对肌球蛋白与肌动蛋白的相互作用有较大的影响,且肌节收缩(肌球蛋白与肌动蛋白的相互作用力)与肌动球蛋白的解离(肌球蛋白与肌动蛋白的相互作用量)并不是一个同步的进程。肌球蛋白轻链2的磷酸化修饰负向调控肌动球蛋白解离和肌动球蛋白ATPase活性,导致肌节的收缩与舒张,进而调控肉品最终的嫩度。     

Nitrogenase complexes: multiple docking sites for a nucleotide switch protein

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis in the nitrogenase complex controls the cycle of association and dissociation between the electron donor adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) (Fe-protein) and its target catalytic protein (MoFe-protein), driving the reduction of dinitrogen into ammonia. Crystal structures in different nucleotide states have been determined that identify conformational changes in the nitrogenase complex during ATP turnover. These structures reveal distinct and mutually exclusive interaction sites on the MoFe-protein surface that are selectively populated, depending on the Fe-protein nucleotide state. A consequence of these different docking geometries is that the distance between redox cofactors, a critical determinant of the intermolecular electron transfer rate, is coupled to the nucleotide state. More generally, stabilization of distinct docking geometries by different nucleotide states, as seen for nitrogenase, could enable nucleotide hydrolysis to drive the relative motion of protein partners in molecular motors and other systems.     

The mitotic spindle: a self-made machine

The mitotic spindle is a highly dynamic molecular machine composed of tubulin, motors, and other molecules. It assembles around the chromosomes and distributes the duplicated genome to the daughter cells during mitosis. The biochemical and physical principles that govern the assembly of this machine are still unclear. However, accumulated discoveries indicate that chromosomes play a key role. Apparently, they generate a local cytoplasmic state that supports the nucleation and growth of microtubules. Then soluble and chromosome-associated molecular motors sort them into a bipolar array. The emerging picture is that spindle assembly is governed by a combination of modular principles and that their relative contribution may vary in different cell types and in various organisms.     

苦荞FtCAD-1和FtCAD-2基因克隆及组织表达分析

【目的】克隆苦荞肉桂醇脱氢酶（CAD）基因并分析其组织表达特性,为深入研究CAD基因在苦荞果壳形成中的分子调控机制提供理论依据。【方法】基于苦荞转录组测序结果,从苦荞厚果壳品种云荞1号和薄果壳品种小米荞克隆CAD基因,对其序列进行生物信息学分析,并利用实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）检测CAD基因在不同果壳厚度类型（厚果壳苦荞和薄果壳苦荞）不同组织的表达情况。【结果】从薄果壳苦荞和厚果壳苦荞中均克隆获得2条苦荞CAD基因,且这2条基因序列在薄果壳苦荞与厚果壳苦荞中均完全一致,命名为FtCAD-1和FtCAD-2。FtCAD-1基因的开放阅读框（ORF）长度为876bp,编码291个氨基酸残基,为疏水性的稳定酸性蛋白,定位于细胞核和细胞质;FtCAD-2基因的ORF长度为1083bp,编码360个氨基酸残基,为亲水性的稳定酸性蛋白,定位于细胞质。FtCAD-1和FtCAD-2蛋白均具有CAD蛋白3个典型的保守结构域,且不具有跨膜结构域和信号肽,属于非分泌蛋白。FtCAD-1与数据库目标蛋白2cf5.1.B的结构相似度为74.74%,而FtCAD-2与数据库目标蛋白5z0c.1.A的结构相似度为63.03%。FtCAD-1与拟南芥的第一类CAD蛋白（AtCAD4和AtCAD5）的亲缘关系较近;FtCAD-2与拟南芥的第二类CAD蛋白（AtCAD2、AtCAD3、AtCAD6等）的亲缘关系较近。FtCAD-1和FtCAD-2基因均在种仁中的相对表达量最高,且厚果壳苦荞与薄果壳苦荞间无显著差异（P>0.05）。FtCAD-1基因在厚果壳苦荞叶、花和果壳中的相对表达量显著（P<0.05,下同）或极显著（P<0.01）高于薄果壳苦荞,尤其是在厚果壳苦荞果壳中相对表达量是薄果壳苦荞的16倍。FtCAD-2基因除了在薄果壳苦荞果壳中相对表达量显著高于厚果壳苦荞外,在其他组织中的相对表达量均表现为厚果壳苦荞高于薄果壳苦荞。【结论】FtCAD-1属于第一类CAD基因,具有明显的组织表达特异性,推测其在苦荞木质素生物合成过程中发挥重要调控作用。     

Triggering a cell shape change by exploiting preexisting actomyosin contractions

Apical constriction changes cell shapes, driving critical morphogenetic events, including gastrulation in diverse organisms and neural tube closure in vertebrates. Apical constriction is thought to be triggered by contraction of apical actomyosin networks. We found that apical actomyosin contractions began before cell shape changes in both Caenorhabitis elegans and Drosophila. In C. elegans, actomyosin networks were initially dynamic, contracting and generating cortical tension without substantial shrinking of apical surfaces. Apical cell-cell contact zones and actomyosin only later moved increasingly in concert, with no detectable change in actomyosin dynamics or cortical tension. Thus, apical constriction appears to be triggered not by a change in cortical tension, but by dynamic linking of apical cell-cell contact zones to an already contractile apical cortex.     

Cilia-like beating of active microtubule bundles

The mechanism that drives the regular beating of individual cilia and flagella, as well as dense ciliary fields, remains unclear. We describe a minimal model system, composed of microtubules and molecular motors, which self-assemble into active bundles exhibiting beating patterns reminiscent of those found in eukaryotic cilia and flagella. These observations suggest that hundreds of molecular motors, acting within an elastic microtubule bundle, spontaneously synchronize their activity to generate large-scale oscillations. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that densely packed, actively bending bundles spontaneously synchronize their beating patterns to produce collective behavior similar to metachronal waves observed in ciliary fields. The simple in vitro system described here could provide insights into beating of isolated eukaryotic cilia and flagella, as well as their synchronization in dense ciliary fields.     

Spatial coordination of cytokinetic events by compartmentalization of the cell cortex

During cytokinesis, furrow ingression and plasma membrane fission irreversibly separate daughter cells. How actomyosin ring assembly and contraction, vesicle fusion, and abscission are spatially coordinated was unknown. We found that during cytokinesis septin rings, located on both sides of the actomyosin ring, acted as barriers to compartmentalize the cortex around the cleavage site. Compartmentalization maintained diffusible cortical factors, such as the exocyst and the polarizome, to the site of cleavage. In turn, such factors were required for actomyosin ring function and membrane abscission. Thus, a specialized cortical compartment ensures the spatial coordination of cytokinetic events.     

Actomyosin from Physarum polycephalum: electron microscopy of myosin-enriched preparations

Negatively stained slime mold actomyosin examined by electron microscopy consists mainly of actin-like filaments with occasional angular projections. If some of the actin is removed, the myosin-enriched actomyosin appears as continuous arrowhead structures similar to those of vertebrate striated muscle actomyosin. Together with other evidence, the findings suggest that cytoplasmic streaming in Physarum may involve a contractile process operating at a relatively low myosin-actin ratio.     

Restoration of torque in defective flagellar motors

Paralyzed motors of motA and motB point and deletion mutants of Escherichia coli were repaired by synthesis of wild-type protein. As found earlier with a point mutant of motB, torque was restored in a series of equally spaced steps. The size of the steps was the same for both MotA and MotB. Motors with one torque generator spent more time spinning counterclockwise than did motors with two or more generators. In deletion mutants, stepwise decreases in torque, rare in point mutants, were common. Several cells stopped accelerating after eight steps, suggesting that the maximum complement of torque generators is eight. Each generator appears to contain both MotA and MotB.     

Motor proteins at work for nanotechnology

The biological cell is equipped with a variety of molecular machines that perform complex mechanical tasks such as cell division or intracellular transport. One can envision employing these biological motors in artificial environments. We review the progress that has been made in using motor proteins for powering or manipulating nanoscale components. In particular, kinesin and myosin biomotors that move along linear biofilaments have been widely explored as active components. Currently realized applications are merely proof-of-principle demonstrations. Yet, the sheer availability of an entire ready-to-use toolbox of nanosized biological motors is a great opportunity that calls for exploration.     

Chemistry. Inventing the nanomolecular wheel

The wheel is considered the canonical invention leading to all manner of mechanical devices. Rotating machinery is also being investigated at the nanoscale as researchers attempt to create molecular analogs of wheels and motors. But will these devices be merely imitations of macroscopic machines? In his Perspective, Siegel discusses results reported in the same issue by Fletcher et al. in which a four-stroke chemical nanoengine is reported. By a series of bond-breaking and bond-forming steps, a molecular structure is caused to undergo directed rotation. The development of structures of this kind, which are not merely miniaturized macromachines, may lead to other devices for executing controlled oscillatory motion.