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Microtubules accelerate ADP release by dynein

E L Holzbaur1, K A Johnson

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802.

Biochemistry
|August 22, 1989
PubMed

Insights

Microtubules activate dynein ATPase by speeding up ADP release, not phosphate. This mechanism involves dynein-ADP intermediates and how microtubules influence dynein

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Motor Proteins

Background:

  • Dynein is a motor protein crucial for cellular transport.
  • Understanding dynein's ATPase mechanism is key to cellular function.
  • Microtubules are known to regulate dynein activity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanism by which microtubules activate dynein's ATPase activity.
  • To investigate the role of phosphate-water oxygen exchange in dynein-microtubule interactions.
  • To determine whether microtubules affect phosphate or ADP release from dynein.

Main Methods:

  • Studying phosphate-water oxygen exchange reactions catalyzed by dynein.
  • Measuring ATP hydrolysis rates in the presence and absence of microtubules.
  • Analyzing the effect of varying ADP concentrations on dynein-microtubule binding and dissociation.
  • Quantifying binding and dissociation rates of dynein to microtubules.

Main Results:

  • Microtubules inhibited the rate of medium phosphate-water exchange during net ATP hydrolysis.
  • Inhibition of exchange correlated with microtubule activation of ATP turnover, without affecting the partition coefficient.
  • Microtubules inhibited phosphate-water exchange in the presence of ADP and Pi.
  • ADP release, not phosphate release, was identified as the rate-limiting step enhanced by microtubules.
  • ADP binding to the microtubule-dynein complex was characterized, with a fast ADP dissociation rate from the dynein-ADP complex.

Conclusions:

  • Microtubules activate dynein ATPase primarily by increasing the rate of ADP release.
  • The findings support the existence of a high-energy dynein-ADP intermediate.
  • Dynein's interaction with microtubules is crucial for regulating its enzymatic activity and power stroke.

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