A CapG gain-of-function mutant reveals critical structural and functional determinants for actin filament severing.
EMBO J
; 25(19): 4458-67, 2006 Oct 04.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-16977317
ABSTRACT
CapG is the only member of the gelsolin family unable to sever actin filaments. Changing amino acids 84-91 (severing domain) and 124-137 (WH2-containing segment) simultaneously to the sequences of gelsolin results in a mutant, CapG-sev, capable of severing actin filaments. The gain of severing function does not alter actin filament capping, but is accompanied by a higher affinity for monomeric actin, and the capacity to bind and sequester two actin monomers. Analysis of CapG-sev crystal structure suggests a more loosely folded inactive conformation than gelsolin, with a shorter S1-S2 latch. Calcium binding to S1 opens this latch and S1 becomes separated from a closely interfaced S2-S3 complex by an extended arm consisting of amino acids 118-137. Modeling with F-actin predicts that the length of this WH2-containing arm is critical for severing function, and the addition of a single amino acid (alanine or histidine) eliminates CapG-sev severing activity, confirming this prediction. We conclude that efficient severing utilizes two actin monomer-binding sites, and that the length of the WH2-containing segment is a critical functional determinant for severing.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Actin Cytoskeleton
/
Gelsolin
/
Mutant Proteins
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
EMBO J
Year:
2006
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos
Publication country:
ENGLAND
/
ESCOCIA
/
GB
/
GREAT BRITAIN
/
INGLATERRA
/
REINO UNIDO
/
SCOTLAND
/
UK
/
UNITED KINGDOM