Chlamydomonas outer arm dynein alters conformation in response to Ca2+.
We have previously shown that Ca(2+) directly activates ATP-sensitive microtubule binding by a Chlamydomonas outer arm dynein subparticle containing the beta and gamma heavy chains (HCs). The gamma HC-associated LC4 light chain is a member of the calmodulin family and binds 1-2 Ca(2+) with K(Ca) = 3 x 10(-5) M in vitro, suggesting it may act as a Ca(2+) sensor for outer arm dynein. Here we investigate interactions between the LC4 light chain and gamma HC. Two IQ consensus motifs for binding calmodulin-like proteins are located within the stem domain of the gamma heavy chain. In vitro experiments indicate that LC4 undergoes a Ca(2+)-dependent interaction with the IQ motif domain while remaining tethered to the HC. LC4 also moves into close proximity of the intermediate chain IC1 in the presence of Ca(2+). The sedimentation profile of the gamma HC subunit changed subtly upon Ca(2+) addition, suggesting that the entire complex had become more compact, and electron microscopy of the isolated gamma subunit revealed a distinct alteration in conformation of the N-terminal stem in response to Ca(2+) addition. We propose that Ca(2+)-dependent conformational change of LC4 has a direct effect on the stem domain of the gamma HC, which eventually leads to alterations in mechanochemical interactions between microtubules and the motor domain(s) of the outer dynein arm.
Sakato
Miho
M
Department of Molecular, Microbial, and Structural Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
Sakakibara
Hitoshi
H
King
Stephen M
SM
D020816:Amino Acid Motifs; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000378:metabolism*; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004398:Dyneins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D050505:Mutant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000187:drug effects; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000187:drug effects; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D000906:Antibodies; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D050505:Mutant Proteins; D021122:Protein Subunits; D004398:Dyneins; D002118:Calcium