1. Kinesin-8-specific loop-2 controls the dual activities of the motor domain according to tubulin protofilament shape
Byron Hunter, Matthieu P M H Benoit, Ana B Asenjo, Caitlin Doubleday, Daria Trofimova, Corey Frazer, Irsa Shoukat, Hernando Sosa, John S Allingham Nat Commun. 2022 Jul 20;13(1):4198. doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-31794-3.
Kinesin-8s are dual-activity motor proteins that can move processively on microtubules and depolymerize microtubule plus-ends, but their mechanism of combining these distinct activities remains unclear. We addressed this by obtaining cryo-EM structures (2.6-3.9 Å) of Candida albicans Kip3 in different catalytic states on the microtubule lattice and on a curved microtubule end mimic. We also determined a crystal structure of microtubule-unbound CaKip3-ADP (2.0 Å) and analyzed the biochemical activity of CaKip3 and kinesin-1 mutants. These data reveal that the microtubule depolymerization activity of kinesin-8 originates from conformational changes of its motor core that are amplified by dynamic contacts between its extended loop-2 and tubulin. On curved microtubule ends, loop-1 inserts into preceding motor domains, forming head-to-tail arrays of kinesin-8s that complement loop-2 contacts with curved tubulin and assist depolymerization. On straight tubulin protofilaments in the microtubule lattice, loop-2-tubulin contacts inhibit conformational changes in the motor core, but in the ADP-Pi state these contacts are relaxed, allowing neck-linker docking for motility. We propose that these tubulin shape-induced alternations between pro-microtubule-depolymerization and pro-motility kinesin states, regulated by loop-2, are the key to the dual activity of kinesin-8 motors.
2. Impact of Dabigatran versus Phenprocoumon on ADP Induced Platelet Aggregation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation with or without Concomitant Clopidogrel Therapy (the Dabi-ADP-1 and Dabi-ADP-2 Trials)
Amadea M Martischnig, et al. Biomed Res Int. 2015;2015:798486. doi: 10.1155/2015/798486. Epub 2015 Jul 1.
Background: A relevant number of patients receive triple therapy with clopidogrel, aspirin, and oral anticoagulation. Clopidogrel's efficacy on ADP induced platelet function may be influenced by concomitant antithrombotic therapies. Data regarding the effect of dabigatran on platelet function is limited to in vitro studies and healthy individuals. Methods: The "Dabi-ADP-1" and "Dabi-ADP-2" trials randomized patients with atrial fibrillation to either dabigatran or phenprocoumon for a 2-week period. In Dabi-ADP-1 (n = 70) patients with clopidogrel therapy were excluded and in Dabi-ADP-2 (n = 46) patients had to be treated concomitantly with clopidogrel. The primary endpoint was ADP-induced platelet aggregation between dabigatran and phenprocoumon at 14 days. Secondary endpoints were ADPtest HS-, TRAP-, and COL-induced platelet aggregation. Results: There was no significant difference regarding the primary endpoint between both groups in either trial (Dabi-ADP-1: Dabigatran: 846 [650-983] AU × min versus phenprocoumon: 839 [666-1039] AU × min, P = 0.90 and Dabi-ADP-2: 326 [268-462] versus 350 [214-535], P = 0.70) or regarding the secondary endpoints, ADPtest HS-, TRAP-, and COL-induced platelet aggregation. Conclusion: Dabigatran as compared to phenprocoumon has no impact on ADP-induced platelet aggregation in atrial fibrillation patients neither with nor without concomitant clopidogrel therapy.
3. Modulation of platelet responses by 2-[3-(bromo-2-oxopropylthio)]adenosine-5'-diphosphate involves its binding to as well as covalent modification of an ADP-receptor, aggregin
R N Puri, R F Colman, R W Colman Arch Biochem Biophys. 1997 Jul 1;343(1):140-5. doi: 10.1006/abbi.1997.0160.
The 2-substituted ADP derivatives are known to activate human blood platelets with varying degrees of potency. For example, 2-(4-bromo-2,3-dioxobutylthio)adenosine-5'-diphosphate [2-BDB-TADP], an ADP-affinity analog, was previously shown by us to be 50% as potent as ADP in inducing human blood platelet responses [Puri, R. N., Colman, R. F., and Colman, R. W. (1996) Eur. J. Biochem. 236, 862-870]. 2-Methylthio-ADP (2-MeS-ADP) has been known to be a far more potent agonist than ADP. However, the molecular basis for defining the rank order of potency of the 2-substituted ADP derivatives as agonists of platelet responses have been incompletely understood. We now report that 2-BOP-TADP (a one carbon atom lower homolog of 2-BDB-TADP) at equimolar concentration is as potent as ADP in inducing platelet responses. Prolonged incubation of platelets with 2-BOP-TADP abolished its ability to elicit cellular responses. An autoradiogram of the gel obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of solubilized platelets labeled by incubating the platelets with 2-BOP-TADP for 1 h followed by reduction by NaB[3H]4 showed the presence of a single covalently radiolabeled protein band at 100 kDa. Preincubation of platelets with either ADP or ATP reduced the intensity of the band corresponding to the 100-kDa protein radiolabeled by 2-BOP-TADP and NaB[3H]4. The results show that (i) 2-BOP-TADP modulates ADP-induced platelet responses by interacting with aggregin and (ii) 2-BOP-TADP was twice as potent as 2-BDB-TADP, and (iii) the chain length of the substituent in a homologous series has an important bearing on the potency of a 2-substituted ADP analog.