Characterization of smooth muscle caldesmon as a microtubule-associated protein

We have previously shown that nonmuscle caldesmon copurified with brain microtubules binds to microtubules in vitro [Ishikawa et al.: FEBS Lett. 299:54-56, 1992]. To explore the role of caldesmon in the functions of microtubules, further characterization was performed using smooth muscle caldesmon, whose molecular structure and function have been best-characterized in all caldesmon species. Smooth muscle caldesmon bound to microtubules with a stoichiometry of five tubulin dimers to one molecule of caldesmon with the binding constant of 1.1 x 10(6) M-1. The binding of caldesmon to microtubules was inhibited in the presence of Ca2+ and calmodulin. Partial digestion of the caldesmon with alpha-chymotrypsin revealed that the binding site of the caldesmon for microtubules lay in the 34-kDa C-terminal domain. When the caldesmon was in the dimeric form in the absence of a reducing agent, the caldesmon cross-linked microtubules to form bundles. Further, the caldesmon potentiated the polymerization of tubulin, and inhibited the in vitro movement of microtubules on dynein. These results suggest that caldesmon may be involved in the regulation by Ca2+ of the functions of microtubules.