Exam 3 Flashcards
Actin Monomer and Structure/Polarity
Globular Actin Monomer (G-Actin); made of two lobes separated by a nucleotide binding cleft (ADP or ATP) - Cleft opening is at minus end and closed end is plus end —> POLAR
Actin Filament Formation
Multiple G-actin monomers bind in the same direction (one’s plus ends interact with another’s minus ends) to form the helical, polar F-actin (Cleft is exposed at one end and not exposed at the other)
Inducing F-Actin Formation
Add Mg2+ –> Associates with Nucleotide bound in Cleft
3 Steps for F-Actin Formation
- Nucleation - involves trimer assembly as a seed for growth; slow step because actin dimers are unstable
- Elongation - subunits add to the trimer; growth
- Steady State - rate of elongation = rate of subunit loss; occurs when G-actin is at critical concentration
Critical Concentration for Actin
If G-Actin exists below critical concentration, no polymerization will be occurring yet
If G-actin exists above critical concentration, polymerization will occur
Always trends toward making [G-actin] = [Critical]
Rate of Polymerization at each end of F-Actin and why?
Critical Concentration at (+) end is lower and thus growth occurs much faster = 0.12 um
Critical Concentration at (-) end is higher and thus growth occurs much slower = 0.6 um
This is due to polymerizing actin monomers containing ATP. As these monomers exist in the filament, said ATP is hydrolyzed and the affinity of the actin monomers for each other decreases. Because it will be typical that subunits will “move down” F-actin towards minus end, the affinity for a free G-actin for the (-) end (ADP-containing monomer) will be lower than for the (+) end (ATP-containing monomer)
Real Cell Critical Concentration for F-Actin Formation and what occurs when this value is reached?
0.2 um; Actin Filaments will exist in the Steady State. (+) ends are adding G-actin and (-) ends are releasing monomers such that there is no net growth or shrinkage – known as Treadmilling!!
Reality is G-actin does not exactly exist at critical concentration, in fact a concentration much higher…what then prevents a great extent of F-actin formation?
Actin-Binding Proteins and Actin Sequestering Proteins
Examples of ABPs and ASPs that prevent spontaneous filamentation
Thymosin Beta-4: binds to free ATP-Actin to prevent polymerization
Profilin: promotes ADP to ATP exchange in cleft while remaining bound to (+) end; promotes polymerization while preventing nucleation
Cofilin: sequesters considerable segment of ADP-Actin from F-actin; promotes depolymerization by “creating more (-) ends”
What exists to catalyze nucleation? 3 Classes
Actin Nucleating Proteins (3 General Classes)
1. Formin Family - attaches to (+) end and uses its FH2 domain to preform multiple (+) end dimerizations, leading to long unbranched filament formation
- Tandem Actin Monomer-Binding Proteins: caps (-) end to promote nucleation and (+) [open] end growth
- ARP2/3 Complex: binds to existing F-actin to create new branch and stays bound to said new branch’s (-) end; MUST pair with WASP protein to get function/nucleation
Chemical Interference with Actin Cytoskeleton: 3 Compounds
Phalloidin: binds along actin filaments to stabilize and prevent depolymerization
Cytochalasin: caps (+) ends to prevent elongation and eventually cause complete depolymerization of said F-actin
Latrunculin: Binds actin monomers to gatekeep them out of polymerizing
Microtubule Subunit and Structure/Polarity
Alpha- Beta- Tubulin Heterodimer; alpha subunit will bind GTP and never hydrolyze it while beta subunit will hydrolyze it
Microtubule Formation
Multiple heterodimers align to form linear structures - protofilaments.
13 protofilaments laterally interact (in parallel fashion) to create a cylindrical shaped structure with a (+)/beta end and (-)/alpha end
3 Steps of Microtubule Formation
- Nucleation - involves several heterodimers associated to create seed for growth (slow step)
- Elongation - more heterodimers add to the seed; growth
- Steady State - rate of elongation = rate of subunit loss; occurs when free/available tubulin is at critical concentration
In-Vitro versus In-Vivo Microtubule Assembly
In Vitro: Subunit Addition or Loss is observed at both ends
In Vivo: (-) end is capped/anchored in MT Organizing Center/Centrosome to help with initial nucleation – only (+) end growth is observed
Free Microtubule Dynamics - Treadmilling
Undergoes treadmilling can experience addition from both ends
GTP bound heterodimers will add and create a GTP cap; as these subunits “progress down” the microtubule, the beta subunit undergoes hydrolysis and “leaves” the GTP cap
If [free tubulin] > [critical], rapid addition and thus rapid GTP cap growth occurs
If [free tubulin] ≈ [critical], there is a stochastic chance that GTP cap could be lost if addition is too slow; this loss is destabilizing
Behavior of Microtubule Growth about Critical Concentration
If [free tubulin] > [critical], rapid addition and thus rapid GTP cap growth occurs
If [free tubulin] ≈ [critical], there is a stochastic chance that GTP cap could be lost if addition is too slow
Loss of GTP cap is destabilizing as it causes a conformational change that induces curving and weakens lateral protofilament interactions
Free Microtubule Dynamics - Dynamic Instability
Based on rates of addition, microtubules randomly alternate between two growth states due to nucleotide conversions at the (+) end
Sudden Growth to Shrinkage: Catastrophe
Sudden Shrinkage to Growth: Rescue
When in the steady state, these effects cooccur such to keep total amount of polymerized heterodimers constant
Where are microtubules typically anchored? What is the purpose?
The Microtubule Organizing Center/Centrosome
Contains two centrioles surrounded by pericetriolar material, inclusive of the gamma-tubulin ring complex (γ-TURC)
γ-TURC is a nucleation site where the (-) ends anchor; treadmilling is no longer possible but dynamic instability at the (+) ends is
Chemical Interference with Microtubule Cytoskeleton: 3 Compounds
Taxol: Binds along filaments to stabilize polymer and prevent catastrophe
Colchicine: Caps filament ends to prevent addition/polymerization, causing formation of a GDP cap [destabilizing, promoting depolymerization]
Nocodazole: Binds to tubulin subunits to prevent them from adding, causing inevitable formation of the GDP cap and subsequent depolymerization/catastrophe
Actin Capping Proteins
Stabilizes F-actin by binding to ends to prevent addition/loss of subunits
CapZ for (+) ends
Tropomodulin for (-) ends
Actin Stabilizing Proteins
Stabilizes F-actin by binding length-wise to stabilize filament
Tropomyosin
Actin Severing/Depolymerizing Proteins
Does not have a consistent manner of binding but always leads to disassembly
Cofilin: severs filaments to create more (-) ends, more sites for depolymerization
Gelsolin: breaks filaments and binds to (+) ends
Actin Cross-Linking Proteins (2 Results)
Produces different assemblies of F-Actin based on built-in spacer domain
Typically has two binding domains to bind multiple filaments and create the assembly
With Flexible, Longer Spacer Domains, we see Gel-Like Networks
Caused by Filamin, Spectrin, ARP2/3
With Rigid, Shorter Spacer Domains, we see Aligned Bundles
Caused by Fimbrin, Villin, Fascin, and Alpha-Actinin [slightly longer]
Membrane-Actin Linker Proteins
Create connections between Actin Cytoskeleton and Plasma Membrane, usually Peripheral Membrane Proteins that serve as the linkage between cytoskeleton and integral membrane protein
ERM Family (Ezrin, Radixin, Moesin)
Spectrin
Dystrophin
Spectrin-Based Cytoskeleton (Example)
Spectrin binds to Actin Filaments and Ankyrin
Ankyrin binds to Band 3 (Integral Membrane Protein)
What happens consequence to mutations in Membrane-Actin Linker Proteins?
Mutations in genes encoding any part of Spectrin-Based Cytoskeleton leads to Hereditary Spherocytic Anemia or conditions where RBC rupture easily
Mutations in Dystrophins lead to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophies (progressive weakening of skeletal muscle)
Microtubule Tubulin Oligamer Binding Proteins
Sequester heterodimers or oligamers to prevent rebinding/rescue and thus promote catastrophe/depolymerization
Stathmin
Microtubule Nucleating Proteins
Assist with Nucleation at Centrosome
γ-TURC
Microtubule End Binding Proteins
Regulate end dynamics and linkages to other cellular structures
EB1: (+) tip - specifically for linkages to organelles
CLIP-170: (+) tip - specifically for interactions between the end and chromosomes or membrane
Microtubule Severing Protein
Break MTs to create more (-) ends and promote catastrophe/depolymerization
Katanin
Microtubule Depolymerizing Proteins
Promote (+) end depolymerization via binding protofilaments and promoting a destabilizing curling conformation
Depolymerizes GTP-Tubulin; IS NOT destabilizing by hydrolysis
Kinesin 13 + Related Subset
Polymer Binding Microtubule Associated Proteins (4 Functions)
i. Stabilizes by binding to sides
ii. Enhance assembly by stabilizing multi-dimer nuclei
iii. Organize MTs into Bundles
iv. Mediate interactions between MTs and Proteins, other Filaments, or Actin
Typically have two domains
1. Microtubule Binding: binds several dimers at once
2. Projection: stems off of Microtubule Binding Domain to interact with other structures
Plectin: used to link different types of filaments
Tau and MAP2: MT organization in neuronal axons and dendrites (MAP2 provides more spacing than Tau)