Structural conversion between open and closed forms of radixin: low-angle shadowing electron microscopy

The function of ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) proteins as general cross-linkers between actin filaments and plasma membranes is regulated downstream of Rho, through the transition between active and inactive forms. To directly examine the conformational change between the active and inactive forms of ERM proteins, we applied low-angle rotary-shadowing electron microscopy to the radixin molecules, wild-type, T564A-non-phosphorylated-type, and T564E-phosphorylated-type, since most of the active forms are reportedly stabilized in cells by the C-terminal threonine phosphorylation. As a result, the T564A- and wild-type radixin molecules yielded the globular closed forms, ∼8-14 nm in diameter, with some striations on their surfaces. In contrast, the T564E-radixin molecules tended to take elongated open forms, in which two globular structures measuring ∼8 nm and ∼5 nm in diameter were associated with both ends of the filamentous structures. The filamentous structure took either a ∼20-25 nm-long straight course or a folded course. Taken together with the biochemical and the crystal structural results obtained to date, the closed and open forms represent the inactive and active forms of radixin as cross-linkers between actin filaments and plasma membranes.