DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200308020. Distinct conformations of the kinesin Unc104 neck regulate a monomer to dimer motor transition

Distinct conformations of the kinesin Unc104 neck regulate a monomer to dimer motor transition

10.1083/jcb.200308020

Crossref journal-article

Rockefeller University Press

The Journal of Cell Biology (291)

Abstract

Caenhorhabditis elegans Unc104 kinesin transports synaptic vesicles at rapid velocities. Unc104 is primarily monomeric in solution, but recent motility studies suggest that it may dimerize when concentrated on membranes. Using cryo-electron microscopy, we observe two conformations of microtubule-bound Unc104: a monomeric state in which the two neck helices form an intramolecular, parallel coiled coil; and a dimeric state in which the neck helices form an intermolecular coiled coil. The intramolecular folded conformation is abolished by deletion of a flexible hinge separating the neck helices, indicating that it acts as a spacer to accommodate the parallel coiled-coil configuration. The neck hinge deletion mutation does not alter motor velocity in vitro but produces a severe uncoordinated phenotype in transgenic C. elegans, suggesting that the folded conformation plays an important role in motor regulation. We suggest that the Unc104 neck regulates motility by switching from a self-folded, repressed state to a dimerized conformation that can support fast processive movement.

Bibliography

Al-Bassam, J., Cui, Y., Klopfenstein, D., Carragher, B. O., Vale, R. D., & Milligan, R. A. (2003). Distinct conformations of the kinesin Unc104 neck regulate a monomer to dimer motor transition. The Journal of Cell Biology, 163(4), 743â753.

Authors 6

Jawdat Al-Bassam (first)
Yujia Cui (additional)
Dieter Klopfenstein (additional)
Bridget O. Carragher (additional)
Ronald D. Vale (additional)
Ronald A. Milligan (additional)

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Dates

Type	When
Created	21 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 24, 2003, 5:12 p.m.)
Deposited	2 years, 1 month ago (July 22, 2023, 10:46 a.m.)
Indexed	1 month, 3 weeks ago (July 11, 2025, 6:38 a.m.)
Issued	21 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 24, 2003)
Published	21 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 24, 2003)
Published Online	21 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 24, 2003)
Published Print	21 years, 9 months ago (Nov. 24, 2003)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Al_Bassam_2003, title={Distinct conformations of the kinesin Unc104 neck regulate a monomer to dimer motor transition}, volume={163}, ISSN={0021-9525}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1083/jcb.200308020}, DOI={10.1083/jcb.200308020}, number={4}, journal={The Journal of Cell Biology}, publisher={Rockefeller University Press}, author={Al-Bassam, Jawdat and Cui, Yujia and Klopfenstein, Dieter and Carragher, Bridget O. and Vale, Ronald D. and Milligan, Ronald A.}, year={2003}, month=nov, pages={743–753} }

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