Src-dependent NM2A tyrosine-phosphorylation regulates actomyosin dynamics

Abstract

Non-muscle myosin 2A (NM2A) is a key cytoskeletal enzyme that along with actin assembles into actomyosin filaments inside cells. NM2A is fundamental in cellular processes requiring force generation such as cell adhesion, motility and cell division, and plays important functions in different stages of development and during the progression of viral and bacterial infections. We previously identified at the motor domain of the NM2A, a novel Src-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation on residue 158 (pTyr158), which is promoted by Listeria monocytogenes infection. Despite the central role of NM2A in several cell biology processes, the pTyr at this specific residue had never been reported. Here we showed that LLO, a toxin secreted by Listeria, is sufficient to trigger NM2A pTyr158 by activating Src, which coordinates actomyosin remodeling. We further addressed the role of NM2A pTyr158 on the organization and dynamics of the actomyosin cytoskeleton and found that by controlling the activation of the NM2A, the status of the pTyr158 alters cytoskeletal organization, dynamics of focal adhesions and cell motility, without affecting NM2A enzymatic activity in vitro. Ultimately, by using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model to assess the role of this pTyr158 in vivo, we found that the status of the pTyr158 has implications in gonad function and is required for organism survival under stress conditions. We conclude that the fine control of the NM2A pTyr158 is required for cell cytoskeletal remodeling and dynamics, and we propose Src-dependent NM2A pTyr158 as a novel layer of regulation of the actomyosin cytoskeleton.