Cryo-EM structures reveal specialization at the myosin VI-actin interface and a mechanism of force sensitivity
Abstract
Despite extensive scrutiny of the myosin superfamily, the lack of high-resolution structures of actin-bound states has prevented a complete description of its mechanochemical cycle and limited insight into how sequence and structural diversification of the motor domain gives rise to specialized functional properties. Here we present cryo-EM structures of the unique minus-end directed myosin VI motor domain in rigor (4.6 Å) and Mg-ADP (5.5 Å) states bound to F-actin. Comparison to the myosin IIC-F-actin rigor complex reveals an almost complete lack of conservation of residues at the actin-myosin interface despite preservation of the primary sequence regions composing it, suggesting an evolutionary path for motor specialization. Additionally, analysis of the transition from ADP to rigor provides a structural rationale for force sensitivity in this step of the mechanochemical cycle. Finally, we observe reciprocal rearrangements in actin and myosin accompanying the transition between these states, supporting a role for actin structural plasticity during force generation by myosin VI.
Data availability
Article and author information
Author details
Funding
W. M. Keck Foundation
- Zev Bryant
Human Frontier Science Program (Long-Term Fellowship)
- Paul V Ruijgrok
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
- Gregory M Alushin
Rockefeller University (Women & Science Fellowship)
- Pinar S Gurel
National Institutes of Health (F32GM094420)
- Tosan Omabegho
National Institutes of Health (1DP2 OD004690)
- Zev Bryant
National Institutes of Health (5DP5OD017885)
- Gregory M Alushin
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Copyright
© 2017, Gurel et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
Metrics
-
- 64
- citations
Views, downloads and citations are aggregated across all versions of this paper published by eLife.
Citations by DOI
-
- 64
- citations for umbrella DOI https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.31125