Abl tyrosine kinase and its substrate Ena/VASP have functional interactions with kinesin-1

Mol Biol Cell. 2005 Sep;16(9):4225-30. doi: 10.1091/mbc.e05-02-0116. Epub 2005 Jun 22.

Abstract

Relatively little is known about how microtubule motors are controlled or about how the functions of different cytoskeletal systems are integrated. A yeast two-hybrid screen for proteins that bind to Drosophila Enabled (Ena), an actin polymerization factor that is negatively regulated by Abl tyrosine kinase, identified kinesin heavy chain (Khc), a member of the kinesin-1 subfamily of microtubule motors. Coimmunoprecipitation from Drosophila cytosol confirmed a physical interaction between Khc and Ena. Kinesin-1 motors can carry organelles and other macromolecular cargoes from neuronal cell bodies toward terminals in fast-axonal-transport. Ena distribution in larval axons was not affected by mutations in the Khc gene, suggesting that Ena is not itself a fast transport cargo of Drosophila kinesin-1. Genetic interaction tests showed that in a background sensitized by reduced Khc gene dosage, a reduction in Abl gene dosage caused distal paralysis and axonal swellings. A concomitant reduction in ena dosage rescued those defects. These results suggest that Ena/VASP, when not inhibited by the Abl pathway, can bind Khc and reduce its transport activity in axons.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Axons / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / physiology*
  • Cell Line
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / physiology
  • Drosophila Proteins / metabolism*
  • Drosophila Proteins / physiology
  • Kinesins / metabolism*
  • Kinesins / physiology
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Microfilament Proteins / physiology*
  • Phosphoproteins / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / physiology*
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / physiology*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl / metabolism*
  • Substrate Specificity

Substances

  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Drosophila Proteins
  • ENA-VASP proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins
  • vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein
  • ARG tyrosine kinase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-abl
  • Kinesins