Hydrolysis of AMPPNP by the motor domain of ncd, a kinesin-related protein

Abstract

AMPPNP was found to be hydrolyzed by the motor domain of ncd (the product of a Drosophila gene, non-claret disjunctional), a kinesin-related protein. This hydrolysis could be monitored by 31P NMR spectroscopy and by an assay of phosphate, one of the products of the hydrolysis. The rate was ≈0.00004 s −1, 1% of the ATP turnover rate. The AMPPNP turnover was not stimulated by microtubules. Kinesin motor domain also turned over AMPPNP but at a somewhat lower rate. Although the turnover was slow, the present finding may present an important caveat, since AMPPNP has been widely used for investigations of kinesin and kinesin-related proteins as a non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue.