A conformational switch in HP1 releases auto-inhibition to drive heterochromatin assembly.

A hallmark of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9)-methylated heterochromatin, conserved from the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe to humans, is its ability to spread to adjacent genomic regions. Central to heterochromatin spread is heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1), which recognizes H3K9-methylated chromatin, oligomerizes and forms a versatile platform that participates in diverse nuclear functions, ranging from gene silencing to chromosome segregation. How HP1 proteins assemble on methylated nucleosomal templates and how the HP1-nucleosome complex achieves functional versatility remain poorly understood. Here we show that binding of the key S. pombe HP1 protein, Swi6, to methylated nucleosomes drives a switch from an auto-inhibited state to a spreading-competent state. In the auto-inhibited state, a histone-mimic sequence in one Swi6 monomer blocks methyl-mark recognition by the chromodomain of another monomer. Auto-inhibition is relieved by recognition of two template features, the H3K9 methyl mark and nucleosomal DNA. Cryo-electron-microscopy-based reconstruction of the Swi6-nucleosome complex provides the overall architecture of the spreading-competent state in which two unbound chromodomain sticky ends appear exposed. Disruption of the switch between the auto-inhibited and spreading-competent states disrupts heterochromatin assembly and gene silencing in vivo. These findings are reminiscent of other conditionally activated polymerization processes, such as actin nucleation, and open up a new class of regulatory mechanisms that operate on chromatin in vivo.

Piperine's mitigation of obesity and diabetes can be explained by its up-regulation of the metabolic rate of resting muscle.

We identify a target for treating obesity and type 2 diabetes, the consumption of calories by an increase in the metabolic rate of resting skeletal muscle. The metabolic rate of skeletal muscle can be increased by shifting myosin heads from the super-relaxed state (SRX), with a low ATPase activity, to a disordered relaxed state (DRX), with a higher ATPase activity. The shift of myosin heads was detected by a change in fluorescent intensity of a probe attached to the myosin regulatory light chain in skinned skeletal fibers, allowing us to perform a high-throughput screen of 2,128 compounds. The screen identified one compound, which destabilized the super-relaxed state, piperine (the main alkaloid component of black pepper). Destabilization of the SRX by piperine was confirmed by single-nucleotide turnover measurements. The effect was only observed in fast twitch skeletal fibers and not in slow twitch fibers or cardiac tissues. Piperine increased ATPase activity of skinned relaxed fibers by 66 ± 15%. The Kd was ∼2 µM. Piperine had little effect on the mechanics of either fully active or resting muscle fibers. Previous work has shown that piperine can mitigate both obesity and type 2 diabetes in rodent models of these conditions. We propose that the increase in resting muscle metabolism contributes to these positive effects. The results described here show that up-regulation of resting muscle metabolism could treat obesity and type 2 diabetes and that piperine would provide a useful lead compound for the development of these therapies.

Piperine, an alkaloid inhibiting the super-relaxed state of myosin, binds to the myosin regulatory light chain.

Piperine, an alkaloid from black pepper, was found to inhibit the super-relaxed state (SRX) of myosin in fast-twitch skeletal muscle fibers. In this work we report that the piperine molecule binds heavy meromyosin (HMM), whereas it does not interact with the regulatory light chain (RLC)-free subfragment-1 (S1) or with control proteins from the same muscle molecular machinery, G-actin and tropomyosin. To further narrow down the location of piperine binding, we studied interactions between piperine and a fragment of skeletal myosin consisting of the full-length RLC and a fragment of the heavy chain (HCF). The sequence of HCF was designed to bind RLC and to dimerize via formation of a stable coiled coil, thus producing a well-folded isolated fragment of the myosin neck. Both chains were co-expressed in Escherichia coli, the RLC/HCF complex was purified and tested for stability, composition and binding to piperine. RLC and HCF chains formed a stable heterotetrameric complex (RLC/HCF)2 which was found to bind piperine. The piperine molecule was also found to bind isolated RLC. Piperine binding to RLC in (RLC/HCF)2 altered the compactness of the complex, suggesting that the mechanism of SRX inhibition by piperine is based on changing conformation of the myosin.

The chromatin remodeller ACF acts as a dimeric motor to space nucleosomes.

Evenly spaced nucleosomes directly correlate with condensed chromatin and gene silencing. The ATP-dependent chromatin assembly factor (ACF) forms such structures in vitro and is required for silencing in vivo. ACF generates and maintains nucleosome spacing by constantly moving a nucleosome towards the longer flanking DNA faster than the shorter flanking DNA. How the enzyme rapidly moves back and forth between both sides of a nucleosome to accomplish bidirectional movement is unknown. Here we show that nucleosome movement depends cooperatively on two ACF molecules, indicating that ACF functions as a dimer of ATPases. Further, the nucleotide state determines whether the dimer closely engages one or both sides of the nucleosome. Three-dimensional reconstruction by single-particle electron microscopy of the ATPase-nucleosome complex in an activated ATP state reveals a dimer architecture in which the two ATPases face each other. Our results indicate a model in which the two ATPases work in a coordinated manner, taking turns to engage either side of a nucleosome, thereby allowing processive bidirectional movement. This novel dimeric motor mechanism differs from that of dimeric motors such as kinesin and dimeric helicases that processively translocate unidirectionally and reflects the unique challenges faced by motors that move nucleosomes.

The myosin inhibitor blebbistatin stabilizes the super-relaxed state in skeletal muscle.

The super-relaxed state of myosin (SRX), in which the myosin ATPase activity is strongly inhibited, has been observed in a variety of muscle types. It has been proposed that myosin heads in this state are inhibited by binding to the core of the thick filament in a structure known as the interacting-heads motif. The myosin inhibitor blebbistatin has been shown in structural studies to stabilize the binding of myosin heads to the thick filament, and here we have utilized measurements of single ATP turnovers to show that blebbistatin also stabilizes the SRX in both fast and slow skeletal muscle, providing further support for the proposal that myosin heads in the SRX are also in the interacting-heads motif. We find that the SRX is stabilized using blebbistatin even in conditions that normally destabilize it, e.g., rigor ADP. Using blebbistatin we show that spin-labeled nucleotides bound to myosin have an oriented spectrum in the SRX in both slow and fast skeletal muscle. This is to our knowledge the first observation of oriented spin probes on the myosin motor domain in relaxed skeletal muscle fibers. The spectra for skeletal muscle with blebbistatin are similar to those observed in relaxed tarantula fibers in the absence of blebbistatin, demonstrating that the structure of the SRX is similar in different muscle types and in the presence and absence of blebbistatin. The mobility of spin probes attached to nucleotides bound to myosin shows that the conformation of the nucleotide site is closed in the SRX.

Conformational changes at the nucleotide site in the presence of bound ADP do not set the velocity of fast Drosophila myosins.

The conformational changes in myosin associated with ADP release and their influence on actin sliding velocity are not understood. Following actin binding, the myosin active site is in equilibrium between a closed and open ADP bound state, with the open state previously thought to favor ADP release and thus expected to be favored in faster myosins. However, our recent work with a variety of myosins suggests the opposite, that the open conformation is dominant in slower myosins, which have higher ADP affinities. To test if this correlation holds for fast myosin isoforms, we determined the relationships between conformational pocket dynamics, ADP affinity and velocity of four Drosophila myosins: indirect flight muscle (IFM) myosin (IFI), embryonic muscle myosin (EMB) and two IFI/EMB chimeras. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra of nucleotide-analog spin probes (SLADP) bound to IFI subfragment-1 in the absence of actin showed a high degree of immobilization, indicating a predominately closed nucleotide pocket. The A·M·SLADP spectra of all four myosins in fibers (actin bound) also indicated an equilibrium favoring the closed conformation with the closed state closing even further. However, the energetics of pocket closure did not correlate with Drosophila myosin actin velocity suggesting our previous model relating pocket dynamics to velocity does not hold for fast myosin isoforms. We conclude that for these fast myosins, and possibly other fast myosins, velocity is controlled by factors other than the ratio of open to closed nucleotide pocket conformation.

The loop 5 element structurally and kinetically coordinates dimers of the human kinesin-5, Eg5.

Eg5 is a homotetrameric kinesin-5 motor protein that generates outward force on the overlapping, antiparallel microtubules (MTs) of the mitotic spindle. Upon binding an MT, an Eg5 dimer releases one ADP molecule, undergoes a slow (∼0.5 s(-1)) isomerization, and finally releases a second ADP, adopting a tightly MT-bound, nucleotide-free (APO) conformation. This conformation precedes ATP binding and stepping. Here, we use mutagenesis, steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics, motility assays, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy to examine Eg5 monomers and dimers as they bind MTs and initiate stepping. We demonstrate that a critical element of Eg5, loop 5 (L5), accelerates ADP release during the initial MT-binding event. Furthermore, our electron paramagnetic resonance data show that L5 mediates the slow isomerization by preventing Eg5 dimer heads from binding the MT until they release ADP. Finally, we find that Eg5 having a seven-residue deletion within L5 can still hydrolyze ATP and move along MTs, suggesting that L5 is not required to accelerate subsequent steps of the motor along the MT. Taken together, these properties of L5 explain the kinetic effects of L5-directed inhibition on Eg5 activity and may direct further interventions targeting Eg5 activity.

Analysis of the interaction of the Eg5 Loop5 with the nucleotide site.

Loop 5 (L5) is a conserved loop that projects from the α2-helix adjacent to the nucleotide site of all kinesin-family motors. L5 is critical to the function of the mitotic kinesin-5 family motors and is the binding site for several kinesin-5 inhibitors that are currently in clinical trials. Its conformational dynamics and its role in motor function are not fully understood. Our previous work using EPR spectroscopy suggested that L5 alters the nucleotide pocket conformation of the kinesin-5 motor Eg5 (Larson et al., 2010). EPR spectra of a spin-labeled nucleotide analog bound at the nucleotide site of Eg5 display a highly immobilized component that is absent if L5 is shortened or if the inhibitor STLC is added (Larson et al., 2010), which X-ray structures suggest stabilizes an L5 conformation pointing away from the nucleotide site. These data, coupled with the proximity of L5 to the nucleotide site suggest L5 could interact with a bound nucleotide, modulating function. Here we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of Eg5 to explore the interaction of L5 with the nucleotide site in greater detail. We performed MD simulations in which the L5-domain of the Eg5·ADP X-ray structure was manually deformed via backbone bond rotations. The L5-domain of Eg5 was sufficiently lengthy that portions of L5 could be located in proximity to bound ADP. The MD simulations evolved to thermodynamically stable structures at 300 K showing that L5 can interact directly with bound nucleotide with significant impingement on the ribose hydroxyls, consistent with the EPR spectroscopy results. Taken together, these data provide support for the hypothesis that L5 modulates Eg5 function via interaction with the nucleotide-binding site.

The role of the super-relaxed state of myosin in human metabolism.

BACKGROUND: The super-relaxed state of myosin (SRX) plays a fundamental role in maintaining the low resting metabolic rate of skeletal muscle. Our previous work on this state has been in animal models. Piperine is a small molecule that has been shown to destabilize the SRX in rabbit fast twitch fibers. METHODS: Here we extend this work to human muscle obtained from biopsies of the vastus lateralis of both lean and obese subjects. The slow release of nucleotides by myosin in the SRX was measured by incubating permeable fibers in a fluorescent analog of ATP and chasing with ATP. RESULTS: The fraction of myosin heads in the SRX was 0.48 ± 0.04 with a lifetime of 148 ± 5 s in lean subjects and a fraction of 0.41 ± 0.05 and a lifetime of 176 ± 7 s in obese subjects. Addition of 100 µM piperine decreased the SRX population by 43 ± 7% in lean subjects and 36 ± 7% in obese subjects, with little change in lifetimes. Addition of piperine to human cardiac cells had no effect on the SRX, a requirement for a drug to treat metabolic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: In human muscle the SRX and its responses to piperine are similar to those seen previously, with no significant differences between muscles from lean and obese subjects. Thus analogs of piperine that have greater specificity could provide effective treatment for metabolic diseases. The SRX provides a potential mechanism contributing to the large dynamic range of metabolic rate.

The conserved L5 loop establishes the pre-powerstroke conformation of the Kinesin-5 motor, eg5.

Kinesin superfamily motor proteins contain a structurally conserved loop near the ATP binding site, termed L5. The function of L5 is unknown, although several drug inhibitors of the mitotic kinesin Eg5 bind to L5. We used electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR) to investigate the function of L5 in Eg5. We site-specifically attached EPR probes to ADP, L5, and the neck linker element that docks along the enzymatic head to drive forward motility on microtubules (MTs). Nucleotide-dependent spectral mobility shifts occurred in all of these structural elements, suggesting that they undergo coupled conformational changes. These spectral shifts were altered by deletion of L5 or addition of S-trityl-l-cysteine (STLC), an allosteric inhibitor that binds to L5. In particular, EPR probes attached to the neck linker of MT-bound Eg5 shifted to a more immobilized component in the nucleotide-free state relative to the ADP-bound state, consistent with the neck linker docking upon ADP release. In contrast, after L5 deletion or STLC addition, EPR spectra were highly immobilized in all nucleotide states. We conclude that L5 undergoes a conformational change that enables Eg5 to bind to MTs in a pre-powerstroke state. Deletion or inhibition of L5 with the small-molecule inhibitor STLC blocks this pre-powerstroke state, forcing the Eg5 neck linker to dock regardless of the nucleotide state.

Conformational variations in an infectious protein determine prion strain differences.

A remarkable feature of prion biology is the strain phenomenon wherein prion particles apparently composed of the same protein lead to phenotypically distinct transmissible states. To reconcile the existence of strains with the 'protein-only' hypothesis of prion transmission, it has been proposed that a single protein can misfold into multiple distinct infectious forms, one for each different strain. Several studies have found correlations between strain phenotypes and conformations of prion particles; however, whether such differences cause or are simply a secondary manifestation of prion strains remains unclear, largely due to the difficulty of creating infectious material from pure protein. Here we report a high-efficiency protocol for infecting yeast with the [PSI+] prion using amyloids composed of a recombinant Sup35 fragment (Sup-NM). Using thermal stability and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, we demonstrate that Sup-NM amyloids formed at different temperatures adopt distinct, stably propagating conformations. Infection of yeast with these different amyloid conformations leads to different [PSI+] strains. These results establish that Sup-NM adopts an infectious conformation before entering the cell--fulfilling a key prediction of the prion hypothesis--and directly demonstrate that differences in the conformation of the infectious protein determine prion strain variation.

The Kinesin-1 tail conformationally restricts the nucleotide pocket.

We have used electron paramagnetic resonance and fluorescence spectroscopy to study the interaction between the kinesin-1 head and its regulatory tail domain. The interaction between the tails and the enzymatically active heads has been shown to inhibit intrinsic and microtubule-stimulated ADP release. Here, we demonstrate that the probe mobility of two different spin-labeled nucleotide analogs in the kinesin-1 nucleotide pocket is restricted upon binding of the tail domain to kinesin-1 heads. This conformational restriction is distinct from the microtubule-induced changes in the nucleotide pocket. Unlike myosin V, this tail-induced restriction occurs independent of nucleotide state. We find that the head-tail interaction that causes the restriction only weakly stabilizes Mg(2+) in the nucleotide pocket. The conformational restriction also occurs when a tail construct containing a K922A point mutation is used. This mutation eliminates the tail's ability to inhibit ADP release, indicating that the tail does not inhibit nucleotide ejection from the pocket by simple steric hindrance. Together, our data suggest that the observed head-tail interaction serves as a scaffold to position K922 to exert its inhibitory effect, possibly by interacting with the nucleotide alpha/beta-phosphates in a manner analogous to the arginine finger regulators of some G proteins.

Structural dynamics of the actomyosin complex probed by a bifunctional spin label that cross-links SH1 and SH2.

We have used a bifunctional spin label (BSL) to cross-link Cys(707) (SH1) and Cys(697) (SH2) in the catalytic domain of myosin subfragment 1 (S1). BSL induces the same weakened ATPase activity and actin-binding affinity that is observed when SH1 and SH2 are cross-linked with pPDM, which traps an analog of the post-hydrolysis state A.M.ADP.P. Electron paramagnetic resonance showed that BSL reports the global orientation and dynamics of S1. When bound to actin in oriented muscle fibers in the absence of ATP, BSL-S1 showed almost complete orientational disorder, as reported previously for the weakly bound A.M.ADP. In contrast, helical order is observed for the strongly bound state A.M. Saturation transfer electron paramagnetic resonance showed that the disorder of cross-linked S1 on actin is nearly static on the microsecond timescale, at least 30 times slower than that of A.M.ADP. We conclude that cross-linked S1 exhibits rotational disorder comparable to that of A.M.ADP, slow rotational mobility comparable to that of A.M, and intermediate actin affinity. These results support the hypothesis that the catalytic domain of myosin is orientationally disordered on actin in a post-hydrolysis state in the early stages of force generation.

Spectroscopic Studies of the Super Relaxed State of Skeletal Muscle.

In the super-relaxed state of myosin, ATPase activity is strongly inhibited by binding of the myosin heads to the core of the thick filament in a structure known as the interacting-heads motif. In the disordered relaxed state myosin heads are not bound to the core of the thick filament and have an ATPase rate that is 10 fold greater. In the interacting-heads motif the two regulatory light chains appear to bind to each other. We have made single cysteine mutants of the regulatory light chain, placed both paramagnetic and fluorescent probes on them, and exchanged them into skinned skeletal muscle fibers. Many of the labeled light chains tended to disrupt the stability of the super-relaxed state, and showed spectral changes in the transition from the disordered relaxed state to the super-relaxed state. These data support the putative interface between the two regulatory light chains identified by cryo electron microscopy and show that both the divalent cation bound to the regulatory light chain and the N-terminus of the regulatory light chain play a role in the stability of the super-relaxed state. One probe showed a shift to shorter wavelengths in the super-relaxed state such that a ratio of intensities at 440nm to that at 520nm provided a measure of the population of the super-relaxed state amenable for high throughput screens for finding potential pharmaceuticals. The results provide a proof of concept that small molecules that bind to this region can destabilize the super-relaxed state and provide a method to search for small molecules that do so leading to a potentially effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes and obesity.

A novel N-terminal extension in mitochondrial TRAP1 serves as a thermal regulator of chaperone activity.

Hsp90 is a conserved chaperone that facilitates protein homeostasis. Our crystal structure of the mitochondrial Hsp90, TRAP1, revealed an extension of the N-terminal ß-strand previously shown to cross between protomers in the closed state. In this study, we address the regulatory function of this extension or 'strap' and demonstrate its responsibility for an unusual temperature dependence in ATPase rates. This dependence is a consequence of a thermally sensitive kinetic barrier between the apo 'open' and ATP-bound 'closed' conformations. The strap stabilizes the closed state through trans-protomer interactions. Displacement of cis-protomer contacts from the apo state is rate-limiting for closure and ATP hydrolysis. Strap release is coupled to rotation of the N-terminal domain and dynamics of the nucleotide binding pocket lid. The strap is conserved in higher eukaryotes but absent from yeast and prokaryotes suggesting its role as a thermal and kinetic regulator, adapting Hsp90s to the demands of unique cellular and organismal environments.

The histone H4 tail regulates the conformation of the ATP-binding pocket in the SNF2h chromatin remodeling enzyme.

The chromatin remodeling complex ACF helps establish the appropriate nucleosome spacing for generating repressed chromatin states. ACF activity is stimulated by two defining features of the nucleosomal substrate: a basic patch on the histone H4 N-terminal tail and the specific length of flanking DNA. However, the mechanisms by which these two substrate cues function in the ACF remodeling reaction is not well understood. Using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy with spin-labeled ATP analogs to probe the structure of the ATP active site under physiological solution conditions, we identify a closed state of the ATP-binding pocket that correlates with ATPase activity. We find that the H4 tail promotes pocket closure. We further show that ATPase stimulation by the H4 tail does not require a specific structure connecting the H4 tail and the globular domain. In the case of many DNA helicases, closure of the ATP-binding pocket is regulated by specific DNA substrates. Pocket closure by the H4 tail may analogously provide a mechanism to directly couple substrate recognition to activity. Surprisingly, the flanking DNA, which also stimulates ATP hydrolysis, does not promote pocket closure, suggesting that the H4 tail and flanking DNA may be recognized in different reaction steps.

Slow myosin ATP turnover in the super-relaxed state in tarantula muscle.

We measured the nucleotide turnover rate of myosin in tarantula leg muscle fibers by observing single turnovers of the fluorescent nucleotide analog 2'-/3'-O-(N'-methylanthraniloyl)adenosine-5'-O-triphosphate, as monitored by the decrease in fluorescence when 2'-/3'-O-(N'-methylanthraniloyl)adenosine-5'-O-triphosphate (mantATP) is replaced by ATP in a chase experiment. We find a multiexponential process with approximately two-thirds of the myosin showing a very slow nucleotide turnover time constant (∼30 min). This slow-turnover state is termed the super-relaxed state (SRX). If fibers are incubated in 2'-/3'-O-(N'-methylanthraniloyl)adenosine-5'-O-diphosphate and chased with ADP, the SRX is not seen, indicating that trinucleotide-relaxed myosins are responsible for the SRX. Phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain eliminates the fraction of myosin with a very long lifetime. The data imply that the very long-lived SRX in tarantula fibers is a highly novel adaptation for energy conservation in an animal that spends extremely long periods of time in a quiescent state employing a lie-in-wait hunting strategy. The presence of the SRX measured here correlates well with the binding of myosin heads to the core of the thick filament in a structure known as the "interacting-heads motif," observed previously by electron microscopy. Both the structural array and the long-lived SRX require relaxed filaments or relaxed fibers, both are lost upon myosin phosphorylation, and both appear to be more stable in tarantula than in vertebrate skeletal or vertebrate cardiac preparations.

EPR spectra and molecular dynamics agree that the nucleotide pocket of myosin V is closed and that it opens on binding actin.

We have used EPR spectroscopy and computational modeling of nucleotide-analog spin probes to investigate conformational changes at the nucleotide site of myosin V. We find that, in the absence of actin, the mobility of a spin-labeled diphosphate analog [spin-labeled ADP (SLADP)] bound at the active site is strongly hindered, suggesting a closed nucleotide pocket. The mobility of the analog increases when the MV·SLADP complex (MV=myosin V) binds to actin, implying an opening of the active site in the A·MV·SLADP complex (A=actin). The probe mobilities are similar to those seen with myosin II, despite the fact that myosin V has dramatically altered kinetics. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation was used to understand the EPR spectra in terms of the X-ray database. The X-ray structure of MV·ADP·BeFx shows a closed nucleotide site and has been proposed to be the detached state. The MV·ADP structure shows an open nucleotide site and has been proposed to be the A·MV·ADP state at the end of the working powerstroke. MD simulation of SLADP docked in the closed conformation gave a probe mobility comparable to that seen in the EPR spectrum of the MV·SLADP complex. The simulation of the open conformation gave a probe mobility that was 35-40° greater than that observed experimentally for the A·MV·SLADP state. Thus, EPR, X-ray diffraction, and computational analysis support the closed conformation as a myosin V state that is detached from actin. The MD results indicate that the MV·ADP crystal structure, which may correspond to the strained actin-bound post-powerstroke conformation resulting from head-head interaction in the dimeric processive motor, is superopened.

Multiple conformations of the nucleotide site of Kinesin family motors in the triphosphate state.

Identifying conformational changes in kinesin family motors associated with nucleotide and microtubule (MT) binding is essential to determining an atomic-level model for force production and motion by the motors. Using the mobility of nucleotide analog spin probes bound at the active sites of kinesin family motors to monitor conformational changes, we previously demonstrated that, in the ADP state, the open nucleotide site closes upon MT binding [Naber, N., Minehardt, T. J., Rice, S., Chen, X., Grammer, J., Matuska, M., et al. (2003). Closing of the nucleotide pocket of kinesin family motors upon binding to microtubules. Science, 300, 798-801]. We now extend these studies to kinesin-1 (K) and ncd (nonclaret disjunctional protein) motors in ATP and ATP-analog states. Our results reveal structural differences between several triphosphate and transition-state analogs bound to both kinesin and ncd in solution. The spectra of kinesin/ncd in the presence of SLADP•AlFx/BeFx and kinesin, with the mutation E236A (K-E236A; does not hydrolyze ATP) bound to ATP, show an open conformation of the nucleotide pocket similar to that seen in the kinesin/ncd•ADP states. In contrast, the triphosphate analogs K•SLAMPPNP and K-E236A•SLAMPPNP induce a more immobilized component of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum, implying closing of the nucleotide site. The MT-bound states of all of the triphosphate analogs reveal two novel spectral components. The equilibrium between these two components is only weakly dependent on temperature. Both components have more restricted mobility than observed in MT-bound diphosphate states. Thus, the closing of the nucleotide pocket when the diphosphate state binds to MTs is amplified in the triphosphate state, perhaps promoting accelerated ATP hydrolysis. Consistent with this idea, molecular dynamics simulations show a good correlation between our spectroscopic data, X-ray crystallography, and the electron microscopy of MT-bound triphosphate-analog states.

Nucleotide pocket thermodynamics measured by EPR reveal how energy partitioning relates myosin speed to efficiency.

We have used spin-labeled ADP to investigate the dynamics of the nucleotide-binding pocket in a series of myosins, which have a range of velocities. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy reveals that the pocket is in equilibrium between open and closed conformations. In the absence of actin, the closed conformation is favored. When myosin binds actin, the open conformation becomes more favored, facilitating nucleotide release. We found that faster myosins favor a more closed pocket in the actomyosin•ADP state, with smaller values of ΔH(0) and ΔS(0), even though these myosins release ADP at a faster rate. A model involving a partitioning of free energy between work-generating steps prior to rate-limiting ADP release explains both the unexpected correlation between velocity and opening of the pocket and the observation that fast myosins are less efficient than slow myosins.