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S K Maciver

Publications and source records attributed to S K Maciver.

15 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

The identification of a second cofilin binding site on actin suggests a novel, intercalated arrangement of F-actin binding.

The cofilins are members of a protein family that binds monomeric and filamentous actin, severs actin filaments, and increases monomer off-rate from the pointed end. Here, we characterize the cofilin-actin interface. We confirm earlier work suggesting the importance of the lower region of subdomain 1 encompassing the N and C termini (site 1) in cofilin binding. In addition, we report the discovery of a new cofilin binding site (site 2) from residues 112-125 that form a helix toward the upper, rear surface of subdomain 1 in the standard actin orientation (Kabsch, W., Mannherz, H. G., Suck, D., Pai, E. F., and Holmes, K. C. (1990) Nature 347, 37-44). We propose that cofilin binds "behind" one monomer and "in front" of the other longitudinally associated monomer, accounting for the fact that cofilin alters the twist in the actin (McGough, A., Pope, B., Chiu, W., and Weeds, A. (1997) J. Cell Biol. 138, 771-781). The characterization of the cofilin-actin interface will facilitate an understanding of how cofilin severs and depolymerizes filaments and may shed light on the mechanism of the gelsolin family because they share a similar fold with the cofilins (Hatanaka, H., Ogura, K., Moriyama, K., Ichikawa, S., Yahara, I., and Inagiki, F. (1996) Cell 85, 1047-1055).

Actin Depolymerizing Factors↗
PubMed1998

The effect of two actin depolymerizing factors (ADF/cofilins) on actin filament turnover: pH sensitivity of F-actin binding by human ADF, but not of Acanthamoeba actophorin.

Actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) from vertebrates and actophorin from Acanthamoeba castellanii are members of a protein family that bind monomeric and polymeric actin and have been shown by microscopy to sever filaments. Here, we compare the properties of recombinant human ADF and actophorin using rabbit muscle actin. ADF binds tenfold more strongly than actophorin to monomeric actin (G-actin)-ATP, and both bind co-operatively to F-actin. ADF decorates filaments below pH 7.3 and induces substantial depolymerization at higher pH values [Hawkins, M., Pope, B., Maciver, S. K. & Weeds, A. G. (1993) Human actin depolymerizing factor mediates a pH-sensitive destruction of actin filaments, Biochemistry 32, 9985-9993], but, at all pH values tested, actophorin binds to filaments in a similar manner to ADF at pH 6.5. Both proteins increase the depolymerization rate at the pointed ends of gelsolin-capped filaments, but the effect of ADF is more marked at pH 8.0. Both proteins accelerate the nucleating activity when mixed with filamentous actin (F-actin), but not with gelsolin-capped filaments, and they rapidly decrease the lengths of filaments as evidenced by electron microscopy. Both of these effects are best explained by a weak severing activity. Our results are discussed in relation to earlier models and to the structural changes observed when ADF binds F-actin [McGough, A., Pope, B., Chiu, W. & Weeds, A. (1997) Cofilin changes the twist of F-actin: implications for actin filament dynamics and cellular function, J. Cell Biol. 138, 771-781]. We also discuss the relevance of these observations to their possible roles in facilitating actin turnover in cells, thereby regulating filament dynamics in cell motility.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1996

Pollen specific expression of maize genes encoding actin depolymerizing factor-like proteins.

In pollen development, a dramatic reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton takes place during the passage of the pollen grain into dormancy and on activation of pollen tube growth. A role for actin-binding proteins is implicated and we report here the identification of a small gene family in maize that encodes actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)-like proteins. The ADF group of proteins are believed to control actin polymerization and depolymerization in response to both intracellular and extracellular signals. Two of the maize genes ZmABP1 and ZmABP2 are expressed specifically in pollen and germinating pollen suggesting that the protein products may be involved in pollen actin reorganization. A third gene, ZmABP3, encodes a protein only 56% and 58% identical to ZmABP1 and ZmABP2, respectively, and its expression is suppressed in pollen and germinated pollen. The fundamental biochemical characteristics of the ZmABP proteins has been elucidated using bacterially expressed ZmABP3 protein. This has the ability to bind monomeric actin (G-actin) and filamentous actin (F-actin). Moreover, it decreases the viscosity of polymerized actin solutions consistent with an ability to depolymerize filaments. These biochemical characteristics, taken together with the sequence comparisons, support the inclusion of the ZmABP proteins in the ADF group.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors↗
PubMed1996

Myosin II function in non-muscle cells.

Amongst the remarkable variety of motility that cells display, cytokinesis (cell division) is particularly striking. Dramatic changes in cell shape occur before, during and after cytokinesis. Myosin II is implicated in the 'rounding up' of cells prior to cytokinesis, and is essential in the formation of the contractile cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. Now it appears that myosin II plays a role in all stages of cytokinesis, as a recent report suggests that myosin II drives post-mitotic cell spreading. A similar type of motile mechanism operating in cell spreading may occur in other cell types in other situations.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Two actin binding proteins, actin depolymerizing factor and cofilin, are associated with Hirano bodies.

Hirano bodies are intracellular, paracrystalline, rod-like structures which contain actin, tropomyosin, vinculin, alpha-actinin, amyloid beta-protein precursor and several microtubule associated proteins (MAPs). These bodies are observed more frequently in the elderly and in a number of neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Many of the proteins known to be associated with Hirano bodies are actin binding proteins. We present immunohistological evidence that actin depolymerizing factor (ADF) and cofilin, two closely related proteins that bind and sever actin filaments, are also components of Hirano bodies. However, we could detect no difference in the levels of expression of either ADF or cofilin in the hippocampal tissue from normal individuals and Alzheimer's disease patients.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors↗
PubMed1995

An actin-related protein from Dictyostelium discoideum is developmentally regulated and associated with mitochondria.

An actin-related protein (ACLA) has been identified in the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum. The complete cDNA sequence indicates that within the actin superfamily it belongs to the ARP3 family of actin-related proteins together with Arp66B from Drosophila melanogaster, Actin2 from Bos taurus, act2 from Schizosaccharomyces pombe and possibly act2 from Caenorhabditis elegans. The ACLA mRNA is regulated during development, showing a maximum between 2 and 4 h after starvation. The protein has been expressed in E. coli and antibodies raised against it. Immunofluorescence microscopy shows that ACLA protein co-localises with mitochondria; the protein copurifies with Dictyostelium mitochondria.

Actins↗
PubMed1995

Utrophin actin binding domain: analysis of actin binding and cellular targeting.

Utrophin, or dystrophin-related protein, is an autosomal homologue of dystrophin. The protein is apparently ubiquitously expressed and in muscle tissues the expression is developmentally regulated. Since utrophin has a similar domain structure to dystrophin it has been suggested that it could substitute for dystrophin in dystrophic muscle. Like dystrophin, utrophin has been shown to be associated with a membrane-bound glycoprotein complex. Here we demonstrate that expressed regions of the predicted actin binding domain in the NH2 terminus of utrophin are able to bind to F-actin in vitro, but do not interact with G-actin. The utrophin actin binding domain was also able to associate with actin-containing structures, stress fibres and focal contacts, when microinjected into chick embryo fibroblasts. The expressed NH2-terminal 261 amino acid domain of utrophin has an affinity for skeletal F-action (Kd 19 +/- 2.8 microM), midway between that of the corresponding domains of alpha-actinin (Kd 4 microM) and dystrophin (Kd 44 microM). Moreover, this utrophin domain binds to non-muscle actin with a approximately 4-fold higher affinity than to skeletal muscle actin. These data (together with those of Matsumura et al. (1992) Nature, 360, 588-591) demonstrate for the first time that utrophin is capable of performing a functionally equivalent role to that of dystrophin. The NH2 terminus of utrophin binds to actin and the COOH terminus binds to the membrane associated glycoprotein complex, thus in non-muscle and developing muscle utrophin performs the same predicted 'spacer' or 'shock absorber' role as dystrophin in mature muscle tissues. These data suggest that utrophin could replace dystrophin functionally in dystrophic muscle.

Actins↗
PubMed1994

Actophorin preferentially binds monomeric ADP-actin over ATP-bound actin: consequences for cell locomotion.

Actophorin from Acanthamoeba castellanii severs actin filaments and sequesters actin monomers. Here we report that actophorin binds ADP-bound monomers with higher affinity than ATP-bound monomers. Actophorin is therefore much less efficient at severing actin filaments in the presence of ADP compared to ATP, particularly taking account of the higher critical concentration in ADP. Monomer binding is also reduced in the presence of 25 mM inorganic phosphate (which is assumed to form ADP.Pi-actin). These findings are discussed in the light of observations on the nucleotide specificity of other monomer binding proteins and related to the role of actin in lamellar protrusion and cell locomotion.

Actins↗
PubMed1993

Human actin depolymerizing factor mediates a pH-sensitive destruction of actin filaments.

ADF (actin depolymerizing factor) is an M(r) 19,000 actin-binding protein present in many vertebrate tissues and particularly abundant in neuronal cells. We have cloned human ADF and here show it to be identical in sequence to porcine destrin. Human ADF expressed in Escherichia coli behaves like native ADF from porcine brain. It binds to G-actin at pH 8 with a 1:1 stoichiometry and Kd approximately 0.2 microM, thereby sequestering monomers and preventing polymerization. It does not cosediment with F-actin at this pH, but severs actin filaments in a calcium-insensitive manner. The severing activity is only about 0.1% efficient. By contrast, at pH values below 7, ADF binds to actin filaments in a highly cooperative manner and at a 1:1 ratio to filament subunits. When the pH is raised to 8.0, the decorated filaments are rapidly severed and depolymerized.

Actin Depolymerizing Factors↗
PubMed1993

Primary structure of and studies on Acanthamoeba actophorin.

We determined the amino acid sequence of the actin monomer binding/actin filament severing protein actophorin from Acanthamoeba castellanii by automated Edman degradation of peptide fragments and by sequencing of full-length cDNA. Actophorin consists of 138 amino acids (calculated molecular weight of 15,543) and shares a high degree of sequence similarity to other low molecular weight actin monomer sequestering proteins, especially vertebrate cofilin, vertebrate actin depolymerizing factor/destrin, and echinoderm depactin. Actophorin is smaller and does not contain a nuclear localization sequence like the related vertebrate proteins. Southern blot analysis indicates that actophorin is a single-copy gene; however, Northern blots show two distinct mRNA species of 1 and 0.9 kb in size. Homogeneous recombinant actophorin purified from Escherichia coli is indistinguishable from the native protein in its physical properties and in biochemical assays of its interaction with actin, but is less reactive with three monoclonal antibodies raised against the native protein. The NH2 terminus of native actophrin is blocked, while the initiating methionine residue is removed from recombinant actophorin. This difference has no measurable effect on activity. By fluorescent antibody staining of Acanthamoeba, actophorin colocalizes with actin filaments in the cortical cytoplasm, especially at the leading edge of the cell. Additionally, actophorin binds phosphatidylinositol 4',5'-bisphosphate. The recombinant actophorin forms X-ray diffraction quality crystals of superior quality in poly(ethylene glycol)/2-propanol and, like the native crystal form, belongs to space group P2(1)2(1)2(1).

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1991

Characterization of actin filament severing by actophorin from Acanthamoeba castellanii.

Actophorin is an abundant 15-kD actinbinding protein from Acanthamoeba that is thought to form a nonpolymerizable complex with actin monomers and also to reduce the viscosity of polymerized actin by severing filaments (Cooper et al., 1986. J. Biol. Chem. 261:477-485). Homologous proteins have been identified in sea urchin, chicken, and mammalian tissues. Chemical crosslinking produces a 1:1 covalent complex of actin and actophorin. Actophorin and profilin compete for crosslinking to actin monomers. The influence of actophorin on the steady-state actin polymer concentration gave a Kd of 0.2 microM for the complex of actophorin with actin monomers. Several new lines of evidence, including assays for actin filament ends by elongation rate and depolymerization rate, show that actophorin severs actin filaments both at steady state and during spontaneous polymerization. This is confirmed by direct observation in the light microscope and by showing that the effects of actophorin on the low shear viscosity of polymerized actin cannot be explained by monomer sequestration. The severing activity of actophorin is strongly inhibited by stoichiometric concentrations of phalloidin or millimolar concentrations of inorganic phosphate.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1991

The actin filament severing protein actophorin promotes the formation of rigid bundles of actin filaments crosslinked with alpha-actinin.

The actin filament severing protein, Acanthamoeba actophorin, decreases the viscosity of actin filaments, but increases the stiffness and viscosity of mixtures of actin filaments and the crosslinking protein alpha-actinin. The explanation of this paradox is that in the presence of both the severing protein and crosslinker the actin filaments aggregate into an interlocking meshwork of bundles large enough to be visualized by light microscopy. The size of these bundles depends on the size of the containing vessel. The actin filaments in these bundles are tightly packed in some areas while in others they are more disperse. The bundles form a continuous reticulum that fills the container, since the filaments from a particular bundle may interdigitate with filaments from other bundles at points where they intersect. The same phenomena are seen when rabbit muscle aldolase rather than alpha-actinin is used as the crosslinker. We propose that actophorin promotes bundling by shortening the actin filaments enough to allow them to rotate into positions favorable for lateral interactions with each other via alpha-actinin. The network of bundles is more rigid and less thixotropic than the corresponding network of single actin filaments linked by alpha-actinin. One explanation may be that alpha-actinin (or aldolase) normally in rapid equilibria with actin filaments may become trapped between the filaments increasing the effective concentration of the crosslinker.

Acanthamoeba↗
PubMed1988

Crystallization of actophorin, an actin filament-severing protein from Acanthamoeba.

Actophorin is an actin monomer-binding and actin filament-severing protein from Acanthamoeba castellanii. It crystallizes out of polyethylene glycol in a form suitable for high resolution x-ray analysis. The crystals are orthorhombic and have the symmetry of the space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with lattice constants a = 39.8 +/- 0.5, b = 47.3 +/- 0.6, and c = 69.9 +/- 1.6 A. They diffract to a resolution of at least 2.8 A, and the asymmetric unit contains one actophorin monomer of Mr 15,000.

Acanthamoeba↗