Regulation of the Plasmodium motor complex: phosphorylation of myosin A tail-interacting protein (MTIP) loosens its grip on MyoA

J Biol Chem. 2012 Oct 26;287(44):36968-77. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M112.379842. Epub 2012 Aug 29.

Abstract

The interaction between the C-terminal tail of myosin A (MyoA) and its light chain, myosin A tail domain interacting protein (MTIP), is an essential feature of the conserved molecular machinery required for gliding motility and cell invasion by apicomplexan parasites. Recent data indicate that MTIP Ser-107 and/or Ser-108 are targeted for intracellular phosphorylation. Using an optimized MyoA tail peptide to reconstitute the complex, we show that this region of MTIP is an interaction hotspot using x-ray crystallography and NMR, and S107E and S108E mutants were generated to mimic the effect of phosphorylation. NMR relaxation experiments and other biophysical measurements indicate that the S108E mutation serves to break the tight clamp around the MyoA tail, whereas S107E has a smaller but measurable impact. These data are consistent with physical interactions observed between recombinant MTIP and native MyoA from Plasmodium falciparum lysates. Taken together these data support the notion that the conserved interactions between MTIP and MyoA may be specifically modulated by this post-translational modification.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / chemistry*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / genetics
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Differential Thermal Analysis
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
  • Fluorometry
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA / chemistry*
  • Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Plasmodium falciparum / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Protozoan Proteins / chemistry*
  • Protozoan Proteins / genetics
  • Protozoan Proteins / metabolism
  • Thermodynamics
  • Titrimetry

Substances

  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Protozoan Proteins
  • Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA

Associated data

  • PDB/4AOM