Plant villin, lily P-135-ABP, possesses G-actin binding activity and accelerates the polymerization and depolymerization of actin in a Ca2+-sensitive manner.
From germinating pollen of lily, two types of villins, P-115-ABP and P-135-ABP, have been identified biochemically. Ca(2+)-CaM-dependent actin-filament binding and bundling activities have been demonstrated for both villins previously. Here, we examined the effects of lily villins on the polymerization and depolymerization of actin. P-115-ABP and P-135-ABP present in a crude protein extract prepared from germinating pollen bound to a DNase I affinity column in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner. Purified P-135-ABP reduced the lag period that precedes actin filament polymerization from monomers in the presence of either Ca(2+) or Ca(2+)-CaM. These results indicated that P-135-ABP can form a complex with G-actin in the presence of Ca(2+) and this complex acts as a nucleus for polymerization of actin filaments. However, the nucleation activity of P-135-ABP is probably not relevant in vivo because the assembly of G-actin saturated with profilin, a situation that mimics conditions found in pollen, was not accelerated in the presence of P-135-ABP. P-135-ABP also enhanced the depolymerization of actin filaments during dilution-mediated disassembly. Growth from filament barbed ends in the presence of Ca(2+)-CaM was also prevented, consistent with filament capping activity. These results suggested that lily villin is involved not only in the arrangement of actin filaments into bundles in the basal and shank region of the pollen tube, but also in regulating and modulating actin dynamics through its capping and depolymerization (or fragmentation) activities in the apical region of the pollen tube, where there is a relatively high concentration of Ca(2+).
Yokota
Etsuo
E
Department of Life Science, Graduate School of Life Science, University of Hyogo, Harima Science Park City, Kamigoricho, Akogun, Japan.
Tominaga
Motoki
M
Mabuchi
Issei
I
Tsuji
Yasunori
Y
Staiger
Christopher J
CJ
Oiwa
Kazuhiro
K
Shimmen
Teruo
T
D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001704:Biopolymers; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D051304:Profilins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding
D000199:Actins; D001704:Biopolymers; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D051304:Profilins; C026615:villin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium