|
|
|
|
Myosin
|
| |
|
| |
Myosins are a large family of motor proteins found in eukaryotic tissues. They are responsible for actin-based motility.
- "The term “myosin” was originally used to describe a group of similar, but nonidentical, ATPases found in striated and smooth muscle cells." From Pollard and Korn, 1973
Following the discovery, by Pollard and Korn, of enzymes with myosin-like function in Acanthamoeba castellanii, a large number of divergent myosin genes have been discovered throughout eukaryotes.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Myosin' Start a new discussion about 'Myosin' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Myosins are a large family of motor proteins found in eukaryotic tissues. They are responsible for actin-based motility.
- "The term “myosin” was originally used to describe a group of similar, but nonidentical, ATPases found in striated and smooth muscle cells." From Pollard and Korn, 1973
Following the discovery, by Pollard and Korn, of enzymes with myosin-like function in Acanthamoeba castellanii, a large number of divergent myosin genes have been discovered throughout eukaryotes. Thus, although myosin was originally thought to be restricted to muscle cells (hence, "myo"), there is no single "myosin" but rather a huge superfamily of genes whose protein products share the basic properties of actin binding, ATP hydrolysis (ATPase enzyme activity), and force transduction. Virtually all eukaryotic cells contain myosin isoforms. Some isoforms have specialized functions in certain cell types (such as muscle), while other isoforms are ubiquitous.
Structure and Function
Domains
Most myosin molecules are composed of a head, neck, and tail domain.
- The head domain binds the filamentous actin, and uses ATP hydrolysis to generate force and to "walk" along the filament towards the barbed (+) end (with the exception of myosin VI, which moves towards the pointed (-) end).
- the neck domain acts as a linker and as a lever arm for transducing force generated by the catalytic motor domain. The neck domain can also serve as a binding site for myosin light chains which are distinct proteins that form part of a macromolecular complex and generally have regulatory functions.
- The tail domain generally mediates interaction with cargo molecules and/or other myosin subunits. In some cases, the tail domain may play a role in regulating motor activity.
Power stroke
Multiple myosin II molecules generate force in skeletal muscle through a power stroke mechanism fuelled by the energy released from ATP hydrolysis. The power stroke occurs at the release of the products of ATP hydrolysis - ADP and phosphate - when myosin is tightly bound to actin. The effect of this release is a conformational change in the molecule that pulls against the actin. The combined effect of the myriad power strokes causes the muscle to contract. See muscle contraction.
Nomenclature, evolution, and the family tree
The wide variety of myosin genes found throughout the eukaryotic phyla were named according to different schemes as they were discovered. The nomenclature can therefore be somewhat confusing when attempting to compare the functions of myosin proteins within and between organisms.
Skeletal muscle myosin, the most conspicuous of the myosin superfamily due to its abundance in muscle fibers, was the first to be discovered. This protein makes up part of the sarcomere and forms macromolecular filaments composed of multiple myosin subunits. Similar filament-forming myosin proteins were found in cardiac muscle, smooth muscle, and non-muscle cells. However, beginning in the 1970s researchers began to discover new myosin genes in simple eukaryotes encoding proteins that acted as monomers and were therefore entitled Class I myosins. These new myosins were collectively termed "unconventional myosins" and have been found in many tissues other than muscle. These new superfamily members have been grouped according to phylogenetic relationships derived from a comparison of the amino acid sequences of their head domains, with each class being assigned a Roman numeral (see phylogenetic tree). The unconventional myosins also have divergent tail domains, suggesting unique functions. The now diverse array of myosins likely evolved from an ancestral precursor (see picture).
Analysis of the amino acid sequences of different myosins shows great variability among the tail domains but strong conservation of head domain sequences. Presumably this is so the myosins may interact, via their tails, with a large number of different cargoes, while the goal in each case - to move along actin filaments - remains the same and therefore requires the same machinery in the motor. For example, the human genome contains over 40 different myosin genes.
These differences in shape also determine the speed at which myosins can move along actin filaments. The hydrolysis of ATP and the subsequent release of the phosphate group causes the "power stroke," in which the "lever arm" or "neck" region of the heavy chain is dragged forward. Since the power stroke always moves the lever arm by the same angle, the length of the lever arm determines how fast the cargo will move. A longer lever arm will cause the cargo to traverse a greater distance even though the lever arm undergoes the same angular displacement - just as a person with longer legs can move farther with each individual step. Myosin V, for example, has a much longer neck region than myosin II, and therefore moves 30-40 nanometers with each stroke as opposed to only 5-10.
Myosin Classes
Myosin I
Myosin I's function is unknown, but it is believed to be responsible for vesicle transport or the contraction vacuole of cells.
Myosin II
Myosin II is the best-studied example of these properties.
- Myosin II contains two heavy chains, each about 2000 amino acids in length, which constitute the head and tail domains. Each of these heavy chains contains the N-terminal head domain, while the C-terminal tails take on a coiled-coil morphology, holding the two heavy chains together (imagine two snakes wrapped around each other, such as in a caduceus). Thus, myosin II has two heads.
- It also contains 4 light chains (2 per head), which bind the heavy chains in the "neck" region between the head and tail. These light chains are often referred to as the essential light chain and the regulatory light chain.
In muscle cells, it is myosin II that is responsible for producing the contractile force. Here, the long coiled-coil tails of the individual myosin molecules join together, forming the thick filaments of the sarcomere. The force-producing head domains stick out from the side of the thick filament, ready to walk along the adjacent actin-based thin filaments in response to the proper chemical signals.
Myosin III
Myosin IV
Myosin V
Myosin V is an unconvential myosin motor, which is functional as a dimer. It translocates (walks) along actin filaments traveling towards the barbed end of the filaments. Myosin V is thought to be critical in vesicle movement from the center of the cell to the periphery.
Myosin VI
Myosin VI is an unconvential myosin motor, which is functional as a dimer. It translocates (walks) along actin filaments traveling towards the pointed end of the filaments. It is the only myosin motor class known to translocate towards the pointed end. Myosin VI is thought to transport endocytic vesicles into the cell.
Myosin VII
Myosin VII is an unconventional myosin with two FERM domains in the tail region. It has a very short coiled-coiled region. Myosin VII is required for phagocytosis in Dictyostelium, spermatogenesis in C. elegans and stereocilia formation in mice and zebrafish.
Myosin VIII
Myosin IX
Myosin X
Myosin X is an unconvential myosin motor, which is functional as a dimer. In mammalian cells the motor is found to localize to filopodia. Myosin X walks towards the barbed ends of filaments. Some research suggests that is preferentially walks on bundles of actin, rather than single filaments. It is the first myosin motor to exhibit this behavior.
Myosin XI
Myosin XII
Myosin XIII
Myosin XIV
Myosin XV
Myosin XV is a motor that is involved in the structuring and motion of stereocilia of in the inner ear. It is thought to be functional as a monomer.
Myosin XVI
Myosin XVII
Genes in humans
Note that not all of these genes are active.
- Class I: MYO1A, MYO1B, MYO1C, MYO1D, MYO1E, MYO1F, MYO1G, MYO1H
- Class II: MYH1, MYH2, MYH3, MYH4, MYH6, MYH7, MYH7B, MYH8, MYH9, MYH10, MYH11, MYH13, MYH14, MYH15, MYH16
- Class III: MYO3A, MYO3B
- Class V: MYO5A, MYO5B, MYO5C
- Class VI: MYO6
- Class VII: MYO7A, MYO7B
- Class IX: MYO9A, MYO9B
- Class X: MYO10
- Class XV: MYO15A
- Class XVIII: MYO18A, MYO18B
Myosin light chains are distinct and have their own properties. They are not considered "myosins" but are components of the macromolecular complexes that make up the functional myosin enzymes.
- Light chain: MYL1, MYL2, MYL3, MYL4, MYL5, MYL6, MYL6B, MYL7, MYL9, MYLIP, MYLK, MYLK2, MYLL1
Paramyosin
Paramyosin is a large 93-115kDa muscle protein that has been described in a number of diverse invertebrate phyla. It is thought that invertebrate thick filaments are composted of an inner paramyosin core that is surrounded by myosin. The myosin interacts with actin resulting in fibre contraction. Paramyosin is found in many different invertebrate species, for example, Brachiopoda, Sipunculidea, Nematoda, Annelida, Mollusca, Arachnida, Insecta. Paramyosin is responsible for the "catch" mechanism that enables sustained contraction of muscles with very little energy expenditure, such that a clam can remain closed for extended periods.
Footnotes
Additional images
See also
External links
- A video of a moving myosin motor protein.
-
|
| |
|
|
