M20, the small subunit of PP1M, binds to microtubules
Takizawa, Norio ; Schmidt, David J. ; Mabuchi, Katsuhide ; Villa-Moruzzi, Emma ; Tuft, Richard A. ; Ikebe, Mitsuo
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Keywords
Binding Sites
COS Cells
Chick Embryo
Eukaryotic Cells
Green Fluorescent Proteins
Holoenzymes
Luminescent Proteins
Microscopy, Electron
Microtubule Proteins
Microtubules
Myosin-Light-Chain Phosphatase
Peptide Fragments
Phosphoprotein Phosphatase
Protein Binding
Protein Structure, Tertiary
Recombinant Fusion Proteins
Life Sciences
Medicine and Health Sciences
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Abstract
Myosin light chain phosphatase (PP1M) is composed of three subunits, i.e., M20, MBS, and a catalytic subunit. Whereas MBS is assigned as a myosin binding subunit, the function of M20 is unknown. In the present study, we found that M20 binds to microtubules. The binding activity was revealed by cosedimentation of M20 with microtubules and binding of tubulin to M20 affinity resin. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged M20 (M20-GFP) was expressed in chicken primary smooth muscle cells and COS-7 cells and was used as a probe for studying the association between M20 and microtubules in living cells. M20-GFP was localized on filamentous structures in both cell types. Colocalization analysis revealed that M20-GFP colocalized with tubulin. Treatment with nocodazole, but not cytochalasin B, abolished the filamentous structure of M20-GFP. These results indicate that M20-GFP associates with microtubules in cells. Microinjection of rhodamine-tubulin into the M20-expressing cells revealed that incorporation of rhodamine-tubulin into microtubules was significantly facilitated by microtubule-associated M20. Consistent with this result, M20 enhanced the rate of tubulin polymerization in vitro and produced elongated microtubules. These results suggest that M20 has a microtubule binding activity and plays a role in regulating microtubule dynamics.
Source
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2003 Feb;284(2):C250-62. Epub 2002 Sep 18. Link to article on publisher's site