Effect of nucleotide binding on the proximity of the essential sulfhydryl groups of myosin. Chemical probing of movement of residues during conformational transitions.

The reaction of myosin with three bifunctional sulfhydryl reagents of differing cross-linking span is reported. In the absence of nucleotide only p-N,N'-phenylenedimaleimide with a cross-linking span of 12-14 A can bridge between the two essential sulfhydryls of myosin. The other two reagents, 2,4-dinitro-1,5-difluorobenzene and 4,4'-difluoro-3,3'-dinitrodiphenyl sulfone with cross-linking spans of 3-5 and 7-10 A, respectively, react under identical conditions with the SH1 sulfhydryl but do not bridge to the SH2 group. In the presence of MgADP, both p-N,N'-phenylenedimaleimide and 4,4'-difluoro-3,3'-dinitrodiphenyl sulfone bridge across the SH1 and SH2 groups indicating a closer proximity of these two sulfhydryls in the presence of bound nucleotide. These results are discussed in relation to the conformational change induced in myosin by binding of the nucleotide.