Phalloidin Binding and Rheological Differences among Actin Isoforms

Actin is a highly conserved protein in eukaryotes, yet different isoforms of this protein can be found within the same cell. To begin to explore whether isoactin sequence diversity leads to functional differences in actin filaments, we have examined the phalloidin binding kinetics and the bulk rheologic properties of purified actin isoforms from a variety of eukaryotic sources. We observe differences in the phalloidin association kinetics between muscle α- and cytoplasmic actins. Phalloidin dissociates from all mammalian actin isoforms tested at the same slow rate, while dissociation from yeast actin is 1 order of magnitude more rapid. The actin isoforms form viscoelastic gels to varying degrees with skeletal muscle α-actin gels being the most elastic, smooth muscle α- and γ-actins being less elastic, and β-actin not forming elastic structures under our experimental conditions. The sequence variation among isoforms is discussed in light of these biophysical and biochemical differences.