Search for Functionally Significant Motifs and Amino Acid Residues of Actin

Abstract

The scientific interest to the structural and functional properties of actin is determined by its abundance in cells. Being an important component of the cytoskeleton, actin is involved in many protein-protein interactions. Using crystal structures and molecular models, we have mapped the amino acid residues that are involved in these interactions and form the ATP-binding site of the actin monomer. Moreover, using mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography methods, we have discovered the regions of the amino acid sequence of actin that form the core of the actin fibril. According to the bioinformatic analysis, these regions are amyloidogenic and are located in the C-terminal region and in the hinge between the first and third subdomains. The data obtained are applicable to chordate actin, because multiple alignment revealed highly conserved amino acid sequences. In turn, the comparison of the chordate actin with the bacterial homologs showed the presence of numerous amino acid substitutions and insertions.