Myosin V processivity: multiple kinetic pathways for head-to-head coordination

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2004 Apr 13;101(15):5542-6. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0307247101. Epub 2004 Mar 31.

Abstract

Myosin V, a double-headed molecular motor, transports organelles within cells by walking processively along actin, a process that requires coordination between the heads. To understand the mechanism underlying this coordination, processive runs of single myosin V molecules were perturbed by varying nucleotide content. Contrary to current views, our results show that the two heads of a myosin V molecule communicate, not through any one mechanism but through an elaborate system of cooperative mechanisms involving multiple kinetic pathways. These mechanisms introduce redundancy and safeguards that ensure robust processivity under differing physiologic demands.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Diphosphate / metabolism
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Kinetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / chemistry
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence / methods
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / genetics
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / metabolism
  • Myosin Type V / chemistry*
  • Myosin Type V / genetics
  • Myosin Type V / metabolism*
  • Recombinant Proteins / chemistry
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Spodoptera / cytology

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Adenosine Diphosphate
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Myosin Type V