Modeling the assembly of the multiple domains of ?-actinin-4 and its role in actin cross-linking.

ABSTRACT: The assembly of proteins into multidomain complexes is critical for their function. In eukaryotic nonmuscle cells, regulation of the homodimeric actin cross-linking protein ?-actinin-4 (ACTN4) during cell migration involves signaling receptors with intrinsic tyrosine kinase activity, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. As a first step to address the latter, we validate here an atomic model for the ACTN4 end region, which corresponds to a ternary complex between the N-terminal actin-binding domain (ABD) and an adjacent helical neck region of one monomer, and the C-terminal calmodulin-like domain of the opposite antiparallel monomer. Mutagenesis experiments designed to disrupt this ternary complex confirm that its formation reduces binding to F-actin. Molecular dynamics simulations show that the phosphomimic mutation Y265E increases actin binding by breaking several interactions that tether the two calponin homology domains into a closed ABD conformation. Simulations also show a disorder-to-order transition in the double phosphomimic mutant Y4E/Y31E of the 45-residue ACTN4 N-terminal region, which can inhibit actin binding by latching both calponin homology domains more tightly. Collectively, these studies provide a starting point for understanding the role of external cues in regulating ACTN4, with different phenotypes resulting from changes in the multidomain assembly of the protein.

SUBMITTER: Travers T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3566466 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature