Disulfide-mediated dimerization of L1 Ig domains.

The neural cell adhesion molecule L1 contains immunoglobulin-like (Ig) domains in its extracellular region that mediate homophilic binding, neurite outgrowth and other activities relevant to CNS development. To correlate conformations of these domains to biological function, several L1-Fc fusion proteins whose bioactivities were previously characterized were analyzed by rotary shadowing electron microscopy. We found that bioactive L1-Fcs containing Ig domains 1-4 or 1-6 exhibited extended, branched structures. In contrast, inactive L1-Fcs containing only the first two or three Ig domains assumed compact shapes that suggested interactions between the L1 arms of these proteins. Analysis of an untagged L1 fragment composed of Ig domains 1-3 demonstrated a mixture of monomeric and dimeric forms. Surprisingly, these dimers were stabilized by intermolecular disulfide bonds. Finally, cell surface L1-GFP fusion proteins containing only the first two or three Ig domains in the extracellular region also engaged in disulfide-mediated dimerization. These results suggest a novel mechanism by which mutations in L1 could interfere with its biological functioning.

XMAP215 is a long thin molecule that does not increase microtubule stiffness.

XMAP215 is a microtubule associated protein that speeds microtubule plus end growth by seven- to tenfold and protects these ends from destabilization by the Kin I kinesin, XKCM1. To understand the mechanisms responsible for these activities, it is necessary to know the structure of XMAP215. By unidirectional shadowing and electron microscopy, XMAP215 appeared as an elongate molecule of 60+/-18 nm, suggesting that XMAP215 could span up to seven to eight tubulin dimers along a protofilament. Most XMAP215 molecules were straight but a subset were bent suggesting that XMAP215 is flexible. Antibodies to the C terminus labeled one end of XMAP215 with no evidence for XMAP215 dimerization. Incubation of XMAP215 and tubulin at 4 degrees C resulted in assembly of curved protofilaments, which appeared to be incomplete tubulin rings. Measurements from rotary shadowed samples showed that tubulin/XMAP215 partial rings had an average width of 8.8+/-1.8 nm compared with 5.6+/-1.1 nm for rings assembled from tubulin dimers alone, suggesting that XMAP215 adds a width of approximately 3.2 nm to the curved tubulin protofilament. XMAP215 did not change the radius of curvature of these partial tubulin rings. Measurements of microtubule flexural rigidity by thermal fluctuations showed that XMAP215 did not change microtubule rigidity. Finally, sequence analysis shows that the N-terminal half of XMAP215 contains four repeats, each composed of multiple HEAT repeats.

The clinical significance of tenascin-C splice variant expression in chondrosarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: Tenascin-C (TNC) is an oligomeric glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix that is prominently expressed in malignant tumors. The purpose of this study was: (1) to determine the in vitro TNC splicing pattern in cultured human chondrocytes and chondrosarcoma cells, (2) to determine the in vivo TNC splicing pattern in clinical chondrosarcoma specimens, and (3) to perform survival analysis based on the TNC splicing pattern of the tumor specimens. METHODS: Human articular chondrocytes and chondrosarcoma cells (cell line JJ012) were grown in a three-dimensional alginate bead system and harvested at two time points. Semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to determine the in vitro TNC splicing pattern for the two cell types. Clinical chondrosarcoma specimens were obtained intra-operatively and underwent RT-PCR to determine the in vivo TNC splicing pattern. Specific immunohistochemical staining for the large TNC splice variant was performed on the clinical specimens. Survival analysis was used to determine the association between the specific TNC splicing pattern and survival. RESULTS: The in vitro mRNA expression pattern of TNC in normal human articular chondrocytes was characterized by a high ratio of the small to the large splice variant (TNC(small):TNC(large)), whereas the in vitro mRNA expression pattern for cultured chondrosarcoma cells was characterized by a low TNC(small):TNC(large) ratio. Clinical chondrosarcoma specimens with a lower TNC(small):TNC(large) ratio showed a trend towards decreased survival. The TNC splicing pattern of these specimens was verified through specific immunohistochemical staining for the large TNC isoform. CONCLUSIONS: The specific TNC splicing pattern may have clinical significance in chondrosarcoma. TNC expression may therefore play a future role in objective tumor grading and novel therapeutic approaches to this malignancy.

Tenascin-C splice variant adhesive/anti-adhesive effects on chondrosarcoma cell attachment to fibronectin.

Tenascin-C is an oligomeric glycoprotein of the extracellular matrix that has been found to have both adhesive and anti-adhesive properties for cells. Recent elucidation of the two major TNC splice variants (320 kDa and 220 kDa) has shed light on the possibility of varying functions of the molecule based on its splicing pattern. Tenascin-C is prominently expressed in embryogenesis and in pathologic conditions such as tumorogenesis and wound healing. Fibronectin is a prominent adhesive molecule of the extracellular matrix that is often co-localized with tenascin-C in these processes. We studied the chondrosarcoma cell line JJ012 with enzyme-linked immunoabsorbance assays, cell attachment assays and antibody-blocking assays to determine the adhesive/anti-adhesive properties of the two major tenascin-C splice variants with respect to fibronectin and their effect on chondrosarcoma cell attachment. We found that the small tenascin-C splice variant (220 kDa) binds to fibronectin, whereas the large tenascin-C splice variant (320 kDa) does not. In addition, the small tenascin-C splice variant was found to decrease adhesion for cells when bound to fibronectin, but contributed to adhesion when bound to plastic in fibronectin-coated wells. Antibody blocking experiments confirmed that both the small tenascin-C splice variant and fibronectin contribute to cell adhesion when bound to plastic. The large tenascin-C splice variant did not promote specific cell attachment. We hypothesize that the biologic activity of tenascin-C is dependent on the tissue-specific splicing pattern. The smaller tenascin-C isoform likely plays a structural and adhesive role, whereas the larger isoform, preferentially expressed in malignant tissue, likely plays a role in cell egress and metastasis.

Multiple conformations of PEVK proteins detected by single-molecule techniques.

An important component of muscle elasticity is the PEVK region of titin, so named because of the preponderance of these amino acids. However, the PEVK region, similar to other elastomeric proteins, is thought to form a random coil and therefore its structure cannot be determined by standard techniques. Here we combine single-molecule electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to examine the conformations of the human cardiac titin PEVK region. In contrast to a simple random coil, we have found that cardiac PEVK shows a wide range of elastic conformations with end-to-end distances ranging from 9 to 24 nm and persistence lengths from 0.4 to 2.5 nm. Individual PEVK molecules retained their distinctive elastic conformations through many stretch-relaxation cycles, consistent with the view that these PEVK conformers cannot be interconverted by force. The multiple elastic conformations of cardiac PEVK may result from varying degrees of proline isomerization. The single-molecule techniques demonstrated here may help elucidate the conformation of other proteins that lack a well-defined structure.

Structure of the Rad50 x Mre11 DNA repair complex from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by electron microscopy.

The RAD50 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of several genes required for recombinational repair of double-strand DNA breaks during vegetative growth and for initiation of meiotic recombination. Rad50 forms a complex with two other proteins, Mre11 and Xrs2, and this complex is involved in double-strand break formation and processing. Rad50 has limited sequence homology to the structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) family of proteins and shares the same domain structure as SMCs: N- and C-terminal globular domains separated by two long coiled-coils. However, a notable difference is the much smaller non-coil hinge region between the two coiled-coils. We report here a structural analysis of full-length S. cerevisiae Rad50, alone and in a complex with yeast Mre11 by electron microscopy. Our results confirm that yeast Rad50 does have the same antiparallel coiled-coil structure as SMC proteins, but with no detectable globular hinge domain. However, the molecule is still able to bend sharply in the middle to bring the two catalytic domains together, indicating that the small hinge domain is flexible. We also demonstrate that Mre11 binds as a dimer between the catalytic domains of Rad50, bringing the nuclease activities of Mre11 in close proximity to the ATPase and DNA binding activities of Rad50.

Bimodal activation of SMC ATPase by intra- and inter-molecular interactions.

Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) proteins play fundamental roles in higher-order chromosome dynamics from bacteria to humans. It has been proposed that the Bacillus subtilis SMC (BsSMC) homodimer is composed of two anti-parallel coiled-coil arms, each having an ATP-binding domain at its distal end. It remains totally unknown, however, how the two-armed structure supports ATP-dependent actions of BsSMC. By constructing a number of mutant derivatives including 'single-armed' BsSMC, we show here that the central hinge domain provides a structural flexibility that allows opening and closing of the two arms. This unique structure brings about bimodal regulation of the SMC ATPase cycle. Closing the arm can trigger ATP hydrolysis by allowing an end-end interaction within a dimer (intramolecular mode). When bound to DNA, ATP promotes a dimer-dimer interaction, which in turn activates their DNA-dependent ATPase activity (intermolecular mode). Our results reveal a novel mechanism of ATPase regulation and provide mechanistic insights into how eukaryotic SMC protein complexes could mediate diverse chromosomal functions, such as chromosome condensation and sister chromatid cohesion.

Ultrastructure and function of dimeric, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1).

Previous studies have demonstrated dimerization of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the cell surface and suggested a role for immunoglobulin superfamily domain 5 and/or the transmembrane domain in mediating such dimerization. Crystallization studies suggest that domain 1 may also mediate dimerization. ICAM-1 binds through domain 1 to the I domain of the integrin alpha(L)beta(2) (lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1). Soluble C-terminally dimerized ICAM-1 was made by replacing the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains with an alpha-helical coiled coil. Electron microscopy revealed C-terminal dimers that were straight, slightly bent, and sometimes U-shaped. A small number of apparently closed ring-like dimers and W-shaped tetramers were found. To capture ICAM-1 dimerized at the crystallographically defined dimer interface in domain 1, cysteines were introduced into this interface. Several of these mutations resulted in the formation of soluble disulfide-bonded ICAM-1 dimers (domain 1 dimers). Combining a domain 1 cysteine mutation with the C-terminal dimers (domain 1/C-terminal dimers) resulted in significant amounts of both closed ring-like dimers and W-shaped tetramers. Surface plasmon resonance studies showed that all of the dimeric forms of ICAM-1 (domain 1, C-terminal, and domain 1/C-terminal dimers) bound similarly to the integrin alpha(L)beta(2) I domain, with affinities approximately 1.5--3-fold greater than that of monomeric ICAM-1. These studies demonstrate that ICAM-1 can form at least three different topologies and that dimerization at domain 1 does not interfere with binding in domain 1 to alpha(L)beta(2).

Cell adhesion molecule L1 in folded (horseshoe) and extended conformations.

We have investigated the structure of the cell adhesion molecule L1 by electron microscopy. We were particularly interested in the conformation of the four N-terminal immunoglobulin domains, because x-ray diffraction showed that these domains are bent into a horseshoe shape in the related molecules hemolin and axonin-1. Surprisingly, rotary-shadowed specimens showed the molecules to be elongated, with no indication of the horseshoe shape. However, sedimentation data suggested that these domains of L1 were folded into a compact shape in solution; therefore, this prompted us to look at the molecules by an alternative technique, negative stain. The negative stain images showed a compact shape consistent with the expected horseshoe conformation. We speculate that in rotary shadowing the contact with the mica caused a distortion of the protein, weakening the bonds forming the horseshoe and permitting the molecule to extend. We have thus confirmed that the L1 molecule is primarily in the horseshoe conformation in solution, and we have visualized for the first time its opening into an extended conformation. Our study resolves conflicting interpretations from previous electron microscopy studies of L1.

Site-specific mutations of FtsZ--effects on GTPase and in vitro assembly.

BACKGROUND: FtsZ, the major cytoskeletal protein in bacterial cytokinesis, assembles in vitro into protofilaments, which can further associate into sheets, bundles or tubes. We have constructed 16 site-directed mutants of E. coli ftsZ, and tested them for GTP hydrolysis and assembly in vitro, and for their ability to complement the temperature sensitive ftsZ84 mutation in E. coli. RESULTS: The mutants were grouped into three classes. Benign mutants, which mapped mostly to the front and back surface of the protofilament, were able to complement ftsZ84 in vivo and showed normal assembly in vitro. GTP contact mutations had less than 10% of wild type GTPase activity. They could all assemble in vitro, and several of these mutants could complement ftsZ84. A third, and newly discovered, class of mutations mapped to the sides of the protofilaments. These lateral mutants had mostly normal GTPase and assembly in vitro, but none of them complemented ftsZ84. The non-complementing mutants showed greatly reduced expression from the pBS58 vector, suggesting possible dominant negative effects. CONCLUSIONS: Several mutants with greatly reduced GTPase could still complement ftsZ84, suggesting that the high level of GTPase observed in vitro is not essential for in vivo function. All of the lateral mutants failed to complement ftsZ84, which suggests that these surfaces of the protofilaments are important for function in cell division. These lateral surfaces may mediate association of FtsZ protofilaments into pairs or small sheets, although their structure is apparently different from the sheets assembled in DEAE dextran or calcium.

C-terminal opening mimics 'inside-out' activation of integrin alpha5beta1.

Integrins are adhesion molecules that convey signals both to and from the cytoplasm across the plasma membrane. In resting cells, integrins in a low affinity state can be activated by 'inside-out signaling', in which signals affecting integrin heterodimer cytoplasmic domains cause a conformational change in the integrin ligand-binding headpiece connected to the membrane by two long, approximately 16 nm stalks. Here we demonstrate a mechanism for conveying a conformational change over the long distance from the plasma membrane to the headpiece. We prepared soluble, alpha5beta1 integrin heterodimer extracellular fragments in which interactions between alpha- and beta-subunit cytoplasmic domains were replaced with an artificial clasp. Release of this C-terminal clasp by specific protease cleavage resulted in an approximately 14 nm separation of the stalks coupled to increased binding to fibronectin. This activation did not require any associated molecules or clustering and was observed with physiological concentrations of divalent cations. These findings suggest that the overall mechanism for integrin inside-out activation involves the spatial separation of the cytoplasmic and/or transmembrane domains.

Plasma fibronectin supports neuronal survival and reduces brain injury following transient focal cerebral ischemia but is not essential for skin-wound healing and hemostasis.

Fibronectin performs essential roles in embryonic development and is prominently expressed during tissue repair. Two forms of fibronectin have been identified: plasma fibronectin (pFn), which is expressed by hepatocytes and secreted in soluble form into plasma; and cellular fibronectin (cFn), an insoluble form expressed locally by fibroblasts and other cell types and deposited and assembled into the extracellular matrix. To investigate the role of pFn in vivo, we generated pFn-deficient adult mice using Cre-loxP conditional gene-knockout technology. Here we show that pFn-deficient mice show increased neuronal apoptosis and larger infarction areas following transient focal cerebral ischemia. However, pFn is dispensable for skin-wound healing and hemostasis.

The FtsZ protofilament and attachment of ZipA--structural constraints on the FtsZ power stroke.

Bacterial cell division protein FtsZ forms protofilaments in vitro that can shift from a straight to a curved conformation. The inside of the curved protofilaments, which corresponds to the carboxyl terminus, should face the center of the cell as curvature increases during constriction of the Z-ring. ZipA, a membrane-tethered division protein, binds to a highly conserved short peptide on the carboxyl terminus of FtsZ. A model is proposed here for how membrane-bound ZipA can reach around the FtsZ protofilament to bind the carboxy-terminal peptide, which faces away from the membrane.

Polymerization of Ftsz, a bacterial homolog of tubulin. is assembly cooperative?

FtsZ is a bacterial homolog of tubulin that is essential for prokaryotic cytokinesis. In vitro, GTP induces FtsZ to assemble into straight, 5-nm-wide polymers. Here we show that the polymerization of these FtsZ filaments most closely resembles noncooperative (or "isodesmic") assembly; the polymers are single-stranded and assemble with no evidence of a nucleation phase and without a critical concentration. We have developed a model for the isodesmic polymerization that includes GTP hydrolysis in the scheme. The model can account for the lengths of the FtsZ polymers and their maximum steady state nucleotide hydrolysis rates. It predicts that unlike microtubules, FtsZ protofilaments consist of GTP-bound FtsZ subunits that hydrolyze their nucleotide only slowly and are connected by high affinity longitudinal bonds with a nanomolar K(D).

Drosophila stretchin-MLCK is a novel member of the Titin/Myosin light chain kinase family.

Members of the titin/myosin light chain kinase family play an essential role in the organization of the actin/myosin cytoskeleton, especially in sarcomere assembly and function. In Drosophila melanogaster, projectin is so far the only member of this family for which a transcription unit has been characterized. The locus of another member of this family, a protein related to Myosin light chain kinase, was also identified. The cDNA and genomic sequences published explain only the shorter transcripts expressed by this locus. Here, we report the complete molecular characterization of this transcription unit, which spans 38 kb, includes 33 exons and accounts for transcripts up to 25 kb in length. This transcription unit contains both the largest exon (12,005 nt) and the largest coding region (25,213 nt) reported so far for Drosophila. This transcription unit features both internal promoters and internal polyadenylation signals, which enable it to express seven different transcripts, ranging from 3.3 to 25 kb in size. The latter encodes a huge, titin-like, 926 kDa kinase that features two large PEVK-rich repeats, 32 immunoglobulin and two fibronectin type-III domains, which we designate stretchin-MLCK. In addition, the 3' end of the stretchin-MLCK transcription unit expresses shorter transcripts that encode 86 to 165 kDa isoforms of stretchin-MLCK that are analogous to vertebrate Myosin light chain kinases. Similarly, the 5' end of the Stretchin-Mlck transcription unit can also express transcripts encoding kettin and Unc-89-like isoforms, which share no sequences with the MLCK-like transcripts. Thus, this locus can be viewed as a single transcription unit, Stretchin-Mlck (genetic abbreviation Strn-Mlck), that expresses large, composite transcripts and protein isoforms (sequences available at http://www.academicpress.com/jmb), as well as a complex of two independent transcription units, the Stretchin and Mlck transcription units (Strn and Mlck, respectively) the result of a "gene fission" event, that encode independent transcripts and proteins with distinct structural and enzymatic functions.

Gamma-tubulin nucleation: template or protofilament?

Gamma-tubulin is known to nucleate microtubule assembly from alpha/beta-tubulin, but the molecular mechanism by which this process occurs is the subject of some controversy. Four recent papers have provided new structural and biochemical constraints on the models proposed for nucleation. These have refined, but not yet resolved, the debate.

Identification of amino acid sequences in fibrinogen gamma -chain and tenascin C C-terminal domains critical for binding to integrin alpha vbeta 3.

Integrin alpha(v)beta(3) recognizes fibrinogen gamma and alpha(E) chain C-terminal domains (gammaC and alpha(E)C) but does not require the gammaC dodecapeptide sequence HHLGGAKQAGDV(400-411) for binding to gammaC. We have localized the alpha(v)beta(3) binding sites in gammaC using gammaC-derived synthetic peptides. We found that two peptides GWTVFQKRLDGSV(190-202) and GVYYQGGTYSKAS(346-358) block the alpha(v)beta(3) binding to gammaC or alpha(E)C, block the alpha(v)beta(3)-mediated clot retraction, and induce the ligand-induced binding site 2 (LIBS2) epitope in alpha(v)beta(3). Neither peptide affects fibrinogen binding to alpha(IIb)beta(3). Scrambled or inverted peptides were not effective. These results suggest that the two gammaC-derived peptides directly interact with alpha(v)beta(3) and specifically block alpha(v)beta(3)-gammaC or alpha(E)C interaction. The two sequences are located next to each other in the gammaC crystal structure, although they are separate in the primary structure. Asp-199, Ser-201, Gln-350, Thr-353, Lys-356, Ala-357, and Ser-358 residues are exposed to the surface. This suggests that the two sequences are part of alpha(v)beta(3) binding sites in fibrinogen gammaC domain. We also found that tenascin C C-terminal fibrinogen-like domain specifically binds to alpha(v)beta(3). Notably, a peptide WYRNCHRVNLMGRYGDNNHSQGVNWFHWKG from this domain that includes the sequence corresponding to gammaC GVYYQGGTYSKAS(346-358) specifically binds to alpha(v)beta(3), suggesting that fibrinogen and tenascin C C-terminal domains interact with alpha(v)beta(3) in a similar manner.

Defining fibronectin's cell adhesion synergy site by site-directed mutagenesis.

Fibronectin's RGD-mediated binding to the alpha5beta1 integrin is dramatically enhanced by a synergy site within fibronectin III domain 9 (FN9). Guided by the crystal structure of the cell-binding domain, we selected amino acids in FN9 that project in the same direction as the RGD, presumably toward the integrin, and mutated them to alanine. R1379 in the peptide PHSRN, and the nearby R1374 have been shown previously to be important for alpha5beta1-mediated adhesion (Aota, S., M. Nomizu, and K.M. Yamada. 1994. J. Biol. Chem. 269:24756-24761). Our more extensive set of mutants showed that R1379 is the key residue in the synergistic effect, but other residues contribute substantially. R1374A decreased adhesion slightly by itself, but the double mutant R1374A-R1379A was significantly less adhesive than R1379A alone. Single mutations of R1369A, R1371A, T1385A, and N1386A had negligible effects on cell adhesion, but combining these substitutions either with R1379A or each other gave a more dramatic reduction of cell adhesion. The triple mutant R1374A/P1376A/R1379A had no detectable adhesion activity. We conclude that, in addition to the R of the PHRSN peptide, other residues on the same face of FN9 are required for the full synergistic effect. The integrin-binding synergy site is a much more extensive surface than the small linear peptide sequence.