Mechanistic Insights into the Active Site and Allosteric Communication Pathways in Human Nonmuscle Myosin-2C

Abstract

AbstractThe cyclical interaction of myosin with F-actin and nucleotides is the basis for contractility of the actin cytoskeleton. Despite a generic, highly conserved motor domain, ATP turnover kinetics and their activation by F-actin vary greatly between myosins-2 isoforms. Here, we present a 2.25 Å crystal structure of the human nonmuscle myosin-2C motor domain, one of the slowest myosins characterized. In combination with integrated mutagenesis, ensemble-solution kinetics, and molecular dynamics simulations approaches, this study reveals an allosteric communication pathway that connects the distal end of the motor domain with the active site. Genetic disruption of this pathways reduces nucleotide binding and release kinetics up to 85-fold and abolishes nonmuscle myosin-2 specific kinetic signatures. These results provide insights into structural changes in the myosin motor domain that are triggered upon F-actin binding and contribute critically to the mechanochemical behavior of stress fibers, actin arcs, and cortical actin-based structures.