Yeast UCS proteins promote actomyosin interactions and limit myosin turnover in cells

Two functions are proposed for the conserved family of UCS proteins: helping to fold myosin motor proteins and stimulating the motor function of folded myosins. We examined both functions in yeast. The fission yeast UCS protein (Rng3p) concentrates in nodes containing myosin-II (Myo2) and other proteins that condense into the cytokinetic contractile ring. Both the N-terminal (central) and C-terminal (UCS) domains of Rng3p can concentrate independently in contractile rings, but only full-length Rng3p supports contractile ring function in vivo. The presence of Rng3p in ATPase assays doubles the apparent affinity (KATPase) of both native Myo2 and recombinant heads of Myo2 for actin filaments. Rng3p promotes gliding of actin filaments by full-length Myo2 molecules, but not Myo2 heads alone. Myo2 isolated from mutant strains defective for Rng3p function is soluble and supports actin filament gliding. In budding yeast the single UCS protein (She4p) acts on both myosin-I isoforms (Myo3p and Myo5p) and one of two myosin-V isoforms (Myo4p). Myo5p turns over [almost equal to]10 times faster in she4Δ cells than wild-type cells, reducing the level of Myo5p in cells 10-fold and in cortical actin patches [almost equal to]4-fold. Nevertheless, Myo5p isolated from she4Δ cells has wild-type ATPase and motility activities. Thus, a fraction of this yeast myosin can fold de novo in the absence of UCS proteins, but UCS proteins promote myosin stability and interactions with actin.