Publications de l’équipe
Année de publication : 2020
Full-length myosin A and essential light chain PfELC structures provide new anti-malarial targets.
eLife : DOI : 10.7554/eLife.60581 En savoir plusRésumé
Parasites from the genus Plasmodium are the causative agents of malaria. The mobility, infectivity, and ultimately pathogenesis of rely on a macromolecular complex, called the glideosome. At the core of the glideosome is an essential and divergent Myosin A motor (PfMyoA), a first order drug target against malaria. Here, we present the full-length structure of PfMyoA in two states of its motor cycle. We report novel interactions that are essential for motor priming and the mode of recognition of its two light chains (PfELC and MTIP) by two degenerate IQ motifs. Kinetic and motility assays using PfMyoA variants, along with molecular dynamics, demonstrate how specific priming and atypical sequence adaptations tune the motor’s mechano-chemical properties. Supported by evidence for an essential role of the PfELC in malaria pathogenesis, these structures provide a blueprint for the design of future anti-malarials targeting both the glideosome motor and its regulatory elements.
ReplierMyosin Structures.
Advances in experimental medicine and biology : 7-19 : DOI : 10.1007/978-3-030-38062-5_2 En savoir plusRésumé
Directed movements on actin filaments within the cell are powered by molecular motors of the myosin superfamily. On actin filaments, myosin motors convert the energy from ATP into force and movement. Myosin motors power such diverse cellular functions as cytokinesis, membrane trafficking, organelle movements, and cellular migration. Myosin generates force and movement via a number of structural changes associated with hydrolysis of ATP, binding to actin, and release of the ATP hydrolysis products while bound to actin. Herein we provide an overview of those structural changes and how they relate to the actin-myosin ATPase cycle. These structural changes are the basis of chemo-mechanical transduction by myosin motors.
ReplierAnnée de publication : 2019
Force Generation by Myosin Motors: A Structural Perspective.
Chemical reviews : 5-35 : DOI : 10.1021/acs.chemrev.9b00264 En savoir plusRésumé
Generating force and movement is essential for the functions of cells and organisms. A variety of molecular motors that can move on tracks within cells have evolved to serve this role. How these motors interact with their tracks and how that, in turn, leads to the generation of force and movement is key to understanding the cellular roles that these motor-track systems serve. This review is focused on the best understood of these systems, which is the molecular motor myosin that moves on tracks of filamentous (F-) actin. The review highlights both the progress and the limits of our current understanding of how force generation can be controlled by F-actin-myosin interactions. What has emerged are insights they may serve as a framework for understanding the design principles of a number of types of molecular motors and their interactions with their tracks.
ReplierOptimized filopodia formation requires myosin tail domain cooperation.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : 22196-22204 : DOI : 10.1073/pnas.1901527116 En savoir plusRésumé
Filopodia are actin-filled protrusions employed by cells to interact with their environment. Filopodia formation in Amoebozoa and Metazoa requires the phylogenetically diverse MyTH4-FERM (MF) myosins DdMyo7 and Myo10, respectively. While Myo10 is known to form antiparallel dimers, DdMyo7 lacks a coiled-coil domain in its proximal tail region, raising the question of how such divergent motors perform the same function. Here, it is shown that the DdMyo7 lever arm plays a role in both autoinhibition and function while the proximal tail region can mediate weak dimerization, and is proposed to be working in cooperation with the C-terminal MF domain to promote partner-mediated dimerization. Additionally, a forced dimer of the DdMyo7 motor is found to weakly rescue filopodia formation, further highlighting the importance of the C-terminal MF domain. Thus, weak dimerization activity of the DdMyo7 proximal tail allows for sensitive regulation of myosin activity to prevent inappropriate activation of filopodia formation. The results reveal that the principles of MF myosin-based filopodia formation are conserved via divergent mechanisms for dimerization.
ReplierPlasmodium myosin A drives parasite invasion by an atypical force generating mechanism.
Nature communications : 3286 : DOI : 10.1038/s41467-019-11120-0 En savoir plusRésumé
Plasmodium parasites are obligate intracellular protozoa and causative agents of malaria, responsible for half a million deaths each year. The lifecycle progression of the parasite is reliant on cell motility, a process driven by myosin A, an unconventional single-headed class XIV molecular motor. Here we demonstrate that myosin A from Plasmodium falciparum (PfMyoA) is critical for red blood cell invasion. Further, using a combination of X-ray crystallography, kinetics, and in vitro motility assays, we elucidate the non-canonical interactions that drive this motor’s function. We show that PfMyoA motor properties are tuned by heavy chain phosphorylation (Ser19), with unphosphorylated PfMyoA exhibiting enhanced ensemble force generation at the expense of speed. Regulated phosphorylation may therefore optimize PfMyoA for enhanced force generation during parasite invasion or for fast motility during dissemination. The three PfMyoA crystallographic structures presented here provide a blueprint for discovery of specific inhibitors designed to prevent parasite infection.
Replier2nd PSL Chemical Biology Symposium (2019): At the Crossroads of Chemistry and Biology.
Chembiochem : a European journal of chemical biology : 968-973 : DOI : 10.1002/cbic.201900092 En savoir plusRésumé
Chemical Biology is the science of designing chemical tools to dissect and manipulate biology at different scales. It provides the fertile ground from which to address important problems of our society, such as human health and environment.
ReplierAnnée de publication : 2018
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy disease results from disparate impairments of cardiac myosin function and auto-inhibition.
Nature communications : 4019 : DOI : 10.1038/s41467-018-06191-4 En savoir plusRésumé
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathies (HCM) result from distinct single-point mutations in sarcomeric proteins that lead to muscle hypercontractility. While different models account for a pathological increase in the power output, clear understanding of the molecular basis of dysfunction in HCM is the mandatory next step to improve current treatments. Here, we present an optimized quasi-atomic model of the sequestered state of cardiac myosin coupled to X-ray crystallography and in silico analysis of the mechanical compliance of the lever arm, allowing the systematic study of a large set of HCM mutations and the definition of different mutation classes based on their effects on lever arm compliance, sequestered state stability, and motor functions. The present work reconciles previous models and explains how distinct HCM mutations can have disparate effects on the motor mechano-chemical parameters and yet lead to the same disease. The framework presented here can guide future investigations aiming at finding HCM treatments.
ReplierCircularly Permuted Fluorogenic Proteins for the Design of Modular Biosensors.
ACS chemical biology : DOI : 10.1021/acschembio.8b00417 En savoir plusRésumé
Fluorescent reporters are essential components for the design of optical biosensors that are able to image intracellular analytes in living cells. Herein, we describe the development of circularly permuted variants of Fluorescence-Activating and absorption-Shifting Tag (FAST) and demonstrate their potential as reporting module in biosensors. Circularly permutated FAST (cpFAST) variants allow one to condition the binding and activation of a fluorogenic ligand (and thus fluorescence) to analyte recognition by coupling them with analyte-binding domains. We demonstrated their use for biosensor design by generating multicolor plug-and-play fluorogenic biosensors for imaging the intracellular levels of Ca in living mammalian cells in real time.
ReplierMyosin VI and branched actin filaments mediate membrane constriction and fission of melanosomal tubule carriers.
The Journal of cell biology : 2709-2726 : DOI : 10.1083/jcb.201709055 En savoir plusRésumé
Vesicular and tubular transport intermediates regulate organellar cargo dynamics. Transport carrier release involves local and profound membrane remodeling before fission. Pinching the neck of a budding tubule or vesicle requires mechanical forces, likely exerted by the action of molecular motors on the cytoskeleton. Here, we show that myosin VI, together with branched actin filaments, constricts the membrane of tubular carriers that are then released from melanosomes, the pigment containing lysosome-related organelles of melanocytes. By combining superresolution fluorescence microscopy, correlative light and electron microscopy, and biochemical analyses, we find that myosin VI motor activity mediates severing by constricting the neck of the tubule at specific melanosomal subdomains. Pinching of the tubules involves the cooperation of the myosin adaptor optineurin and the activity of actin nucleation machineries, including the WASH and Arp2/3 complexes. The fission and release of these tubules allows for the export of components from melanosomes, such as the SNARE VAMP7, and promotes melanosome maturation and transfer to keratinocytes. Our data reveal a new myosin VI- and actin-dependent membrane fission mechanism required for organelle function.
ReplierAn intermediate along the recovery stroke of myosin VI revealed by X-ray crystallography and molecular dynamics.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America : 6213-6218 : DOI : 10.1073/pnas.1711512115 En savoir plusRésumé
Myosins form a class of actin-based, ATPase motor proteins that mediate important cellular functions such as cargo transport and cell motility. Their functional cycle involves two large-scale swings of the lever arm: the force-generating powerstroke, which takes place on actin, and the recovery stroke during which the lever arm is reprimed into an armed configuration. Previous analyses of the prerecovery (postrigor) and postrecovery (prepowerstroke) states predicted that closure of switch II in the ATP binding site precedes the movement of the converter and the lever arm. Here, we report on a crystal structure of myosin VI, called pretransition state (PTS), which was solved at 2.2 Å resolution. Structural analysis and all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are consistent with PTS being an intermediate along the recovery stroke, where the Relay/SH1 elements adopt a postrecovery conformation, and switch II remains open. In this state, the converter appears to be largely uncoupled from the motor domain and explores an ensemble of partially reprimed configurations through extensive, reversible fluctuations. Moreover, we found that the free energy cost of hydrogen-bonding switch II to ATP is lowered by more than 10 kcal/mol compared with the prerecovery state. These results support the conclusion that closing of switch II does not initiate the recovery stroke transition in myosin VI. Rather, they suggest a mechanism in which lever arm repriming would be mostly driven by thermal fluctuations and eventually stabilized by the switch II interaction with the nucleotide in a ratchet-like fashion.
ReplierAnnée de publication : 2017
MYO5B, STX3 and STXBP2 mutations reveal a common disease mechanism that unifies a subset of congenital diarrheal disorders: A mutation update.
Human mutation : DOI : 10.1002/humu.23386 En savoir plusRésumé
Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is a rare but fatal autosomal recessive congenital diarrheal disorder caused by MYO5B mutations. In 2013 we launched an open-access registry for MVID patients and their MYO5B mutations (www.mvid-central.org). Since then, additional unique MYO5B mutations have been identified in MVID patients, but also in non-MVID patients. Animal models have been generated that formally prove the causality between MYO5B and MVID. Importantly, mutations in two other genes, STXBP2 and STX3, have since been associated with variants of MVID, shedding new light on the pathogenesis of this congenital diarrheal disorder. Here we review these additional genes and their mutations. Furthermore, we discuss recent data from cell studies that indicate that the three genes are functionally linked and, therefore, may constitute a common disease mechanism that unifies a subset of phenotypically linked congenital diarrheal disorders. We present new data based on patient material to support this. To congregate existing and future information on MVID geno-/phenotypes, we have updated and expanded the MVID registry to include all currently known MVID-associated gene mutations, their demonstrated or predicted functional consequences, and associated clinical information. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
ReplierEml1 loss impairs apical progenitor spindle length and soma shape in the developing cerebral cortex.
Scientific reports : 17308 : DOI : 10.1038/s41598-017-15253-4 En savoir plusRésumé
The ventricular zone (VZ) of the developing cerebral cortex is a pseudostratified epithelium that contains progenitors undergoing precisely regulated divisions at its most apical side, the ventricular lining (VL). Mitotic perturbations can contribute to pathological mechanisms leading to cortical malformations. The HeCo mutant mouse exhibits subcortical band heterotopia (SBH), likely to be initiated by progenitor delamination from the VZ early during corticogenesis. The causes for this are however, currently unknown. Eml1, a microtubule (MT)-associated protein of the EMAP family, is impaired in these mice. We first show that MT dynamics are perturbed in mutant progenitor cells in vitro. These may influence interphase and mitotic MT mechanisms and indeed, centrosome and primary cilia were altered and spindles were found to be abnormally long in HeCo progenitors. Consistently, MT and spindle length regulators were identified in EML1 pulldowns from embryonic brain extracts. Finally, we found that mitotic cell shape is also abnormal in the mutant VZ. These previously unidentified VZ characteristics suggest altered cell constraints which may contribute to cell delamination.
ReplierCoupling fission and exit of RAB6 vesicles at Golgi hotspots through kinesin-myosin interactions.
Nature communications : 1254 : DOI : 10.1038/s41467-017-01266-0 En savoir plusRésumé
The actin and microtubule cytoskeletons play important roles in Golgi structure and function, but how they are connected remain poorly known. In this study, we investigated whether RAB6 GTPase, a Golgi-associated RAB involved in the regulation of several transport steps at the Golgi level, and two of its effectors, Myosin IIA and KIF20A participate in the coupling between actin and microtubule cytoskeleton. We have previously shown that RAB6-Myosin IIA interaction is critical for the fission of RAB6-positive transport carriers from Golgi/TGN membranes. Here we show that KIF20A is also involved in the fission process and serves to anchor RAB6 on Golgi/TGN membranes near microtubule nucleating sites. We provide evidence that the fission events occur at a limited number of hotspots sites. Our results suggest that coupling between actin and microtubule cytoskeletons driven by Myosin II and KIF20A ensures the spatial coordination between RAB6-positive vesicles fission from Golgi/TGN membranes and their exit along microtubules.
ReplierThe divergent mitotic kinesin MKLP2 exhibits atypical structure and mechanochemistry.
eLife : DOI : 10.7554/eLife.27793 En savoir plusRésumé
MKLP2, a kinesin-6, has critical roles during the metaphase-anaphase transition and cytokinesis. Its motor domain contains conserved nucleotide binding motifs, but is divergent in sequence (~35% identity) and size (~40% larger) compared to other kinesins. Using cryo-electron microscopy and biophysical assays, we have undertaken a mechanochemical dissection of the microtubule-bound MKLP2 motor domain during its ATPase cycle, and show that many facets of its mechanism are distinct from other kinesins. While the MKLP2 neck-linker is directed towards the microtubule plus-end in an ATP-like state, it does not fully dock along the motor domain. Furthermore, the footprint of the MKLP2 motor domain on the MT surface is altered compared to motile kinesins, and enhanced by kinesin-6-specific sequences. The conformation of the highly extended loop6 insertion characteristic of kinesin-6s is nucleotide-independent and does not contact the MT surface. Our results emphasize the role of family-specific insertions in modulating kinesin motor function.
ReplierMechanistic and structural basis for activation of cardiac myosin force production by omecamtiv mecarbil.
Nature communications : 190 : DOI : 10.1038/s41467-017-00176-5 En savoir plusRésumé
Omecamtiv mecarbil is a selective, small-molecule activator of cardiac myosin that is being developed as a potential treatment for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Here we determine the crystal structure of cardiac myosin in the pre-powerstroke state, the most relevant state suggested by kinetic studies, both with (2.45 Å) and without (3.10 Å) omecamtiv mecarbil bound. Omecamtiv mecarbil does not change the motor mechanism nor does it influence myosin structure. Instead, omecamtiv mecarbil binds to an allosteric site that stabilizes the lever arm in a primed position resulting in accumulation of cardiac myosin in the primed state prior to onset of cardiac contraction, thus increasing the number of heads that can bind to the actin filament and undergo a powerstroke once the cardiac cycle starts. The mechanism of action of omecamtiv mecarbil also provides insights into uncovering how force is generated by molecular motors.Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a cardiac myosin activator that is currently in clinical trials for heart failure treatment. Here, the authors give insights into its mode of action and present the crystal structure of OM bound to bovine cardiac myosin, which shows that OM stabilizes the pre-powerstroke state of myosin.
Replier