title: Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence identifies specific conformational changes at the actomyosin interface upon actin binding and ADP release.
abstract: The helix-loop-helix (A-site) and myopathy loop (R-site) are located on opposite sides of the cleft that separates the proposed actin-binding interface of myosin. To investigate the structural features of the A- and R-sites, we engineered two mutants of the smooth muscle myosin motor domain with the essential light chain (MDE), containing a single tryptophan located either in the A-site (W546-MDE) or in the R-site (V413W MDE). W546- and V413W-MDE display actin-activated ATPase and actin-binding properties similar to those of wild-type MDE. The steady-state fluorescence properties of W546-MDE [emission peak (lambda(max)) = 344, quantum yield = 0.20, and acrylamide bimolecular quenching constant (k(q)) = 6.4 M(-)(1). ns(-)(1)] and V413W-MDE [lambda(max) = 338, quantum yield = 0.27, and k(q) = 3.6 M(-)(1).ns(-)(1)] demonstrate that Trp-546 and Trp-413 are nearly fully exposed to solvent, in agreement with the crystallographic data on these residues. In the presence of actin, Trp-546 shifts to a more buried environment in both the ADP-bound and nucleotide-free (rigor) actomyosin complexes, as indicated by an average lambda(max) of 337 or 336 nm, respectively, and protection from dimethyl(2-hydroxy-5-nitrobenzyl)sulfonium bromide (DHNBS) oxidation. In contrast, Trp-413 has a single conformation with an average lambda(max) of 338 nm in the ADP-bound complex, but in the rigor complex it is 50% more accessible to DHNBS oxidation and can adopt a range of possible conformations (lambda(max) = 341-347 nm). Our results suggest a structural model in which the A-site remains tightly bound to actin and the R-site adopts a more flexible and solvent-exposed conformation upon ADP release.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yengo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chrin
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rovner
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Berger
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000205:Actomyosin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D015202:Protein Engineering; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D014364:Tryptophan
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000244:Adenosine Diphosphate; D014364:Tryptophan; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000205:Actomyosin