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Reaction of two heads of gizzard myosin with ATP

M Miyata1, T Arata, A Inoue

  • 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Osaka University.

Journal of Biochemistry
|February 1, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Smooth muscle myosin has two nucleotide binding sites with different affinities for ATP, influencing its ATPase reaction and actomyosin dissociation. This study reveals distinct binding characteristics crucial for muscle contraction mechanisms.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Muscle Physiology

Background:

  • Smooth muscle myosin is a key motor protein involved in muscle contraction.
  • Understanding the kinetics of ATP hydrolysis and nucleotide binding is essential for elucidating myosin function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the reaction intermediates formed by smooth muscle myosin heads.
  • To characterize the nucleotide binding sites and their affinities for ATP and ADP.
  • To correlate myosin intermediate formation with actomyosin dissociation.

Main Methods:

  • Measurement of myosin-phosphate-ADP (MPADP) complex formation via Pi-burst size at varying ATP concentrations.
  • Direct measurement of nucleotide binding to gizzard myosin using centrifugation.
  • Study of actomyosin dissociation in response to ATP addition.

Main Results:

  • Gizzard myosin exhibits two types of nucleotide binding sites with distinct affinities (Kd ≈ 1 µM and Kd = 24 µM for ATP).
  • Pi-burst size varied with ATP concentration, indicating different intermediate formations (0.5 to 0.75 mol/mol myosin head).
  • Actomyosin dissociation was observed upon addition of 1 mol ATP per mol myosin, with 93% ATP hydrolysis during the Pi-burst phase.

Conclusions:

  • Gizzard myosin possesses two distinct nucleotide binding sites, affecting MPADP and M-ATP formation.
  • These differential binding properties are critical for the ATPase cycle and actomyosin dynamics.
  • The findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of smooth muscle contraction.

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