Stephen H Smith

HDAC4 and PCAF Bind to Cardiac Sarcomeres and Play a Role in Regulating Myofilament Contractile Activity

Reversible acetylation of lysine residues within a protein is considered a biologically relevant modification that rivals phosphorylation ( Kouzarides, T. (2000) EMBO J. 19, 1176-1179 ). The enzymes responsible for such protein modification are called histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs). A role of protein phosphorylation in regulating muscle contraction is well established ( Solaro, R. J., Moir, A. J., and Perry, S. V. (1976) Nature 262, 615-617 ). Here we show that reversible protein acetylation carried out by HATs and HDACs also plays a role in regulating the myofilament contractile activity. We found that a Class II HDAC, HDAC4, and an HAT, PCAF, associate with cardiac myofilaments. Primary cultures of cardiomyocytes as well as mouse heart sections examined by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic analyses revealed that both HDAC4 and PCAF associate with the Z-disc and I- and A-bands of cardiac sacromeres. Increased acetylation of sarcomeric proteins by HDAC inhibition (using class I and II HDAC inhibitors or anti-HDAC4 antibody) enhanced the myofilament calcium sensitivity. We identified the Z-disc-associated protein, MLP, a sensor of cardiac mechanical stretch, as an acetylated target of PCAF and HDAC4. We also show that trichostatin-A, a class I and II HDAC inhibitor, increases myofilament calcium sensitivity of wild-type, but not of MLP knock-out mice, thus demonstrating a role of MLP in acetylation-dependent increased contractile activity of myofilaments. These studies provide the first evidence that HATs and HDACs play a role in regulation of muscle contraction.

Left Ventricular and Myocardial Function in Mice Expressing Constitutively Pseudophosphorylated Cardiac Troponin I

Rationale: Protein kinase (PK)C-induced phosphorylation of cardiac troponin (cTn)I has been shown to regulate cardiac contraction. Objective: Characterize functional effects of increased PKC-induced cTnI phosphorylation and identify underlying mechanisms using a transgenic mouse model (cTnIPKC-P) expressing mutant cTnI (S43E, S45E, T144E). Methods and Results: Two-dimensional gel analysis showed 7.2±0.5% replacement of endogenous cTnI with the mutant form. Experiments included: mechanical measurements (perfused isolated hearts, isolated papillary muscles, and skinned fiber preparations), biochemical and molecular biological measurements, and a mathematical model–based analysis for integrative interpretation. Compared to wild-type mice, cTnIPKC-P mice exhibited negative inotropy in isolated hearts (14% decrease in peak developed pressure), papillary muscles (53% decrease in maximum developed force), and skinned fibers (14% decrease in maximally activated force, Fmax). Additionally, cTnIPKC-P mice exhibited slowed relaxation in both isolated hearts and intact papillary muscles. The cTnIPKC-P mice showed no differences in calcium sensitivity, cooperativity, steady-state force-MgATPase relationship, calcium transient (amplitude and relaxation), or baseline phosphorylation of other myofilamental proteins. The model-based analysis revealed that experimental observations in cTnIPKC-P mice could be reproduced by 2 simultaneous perturbations: a decrease in the rate of cross-bridge formation and an increase in calcium-independent persistence of the myofilament active state. Conclusions: A modest increase in PKC-induced cTnI phosphorylation (≈7%) can significantly alter cardiac muscle contraction: negative inotropy via decreased cross-bridge formation and negative lusitropy via persistence of myofilament active state. Based on our data and data from the literature we speculate that effects of PKC-mediated cTnI phosphorylation are site-specific (S43/S45 versus T144).

The Role of Cardiac Troponin T Quantity and Function in Cardiac Development and Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Background Hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies result from sarcomeric protein mutations, including cardiac troponin T (cTnT, TNNT2). We determined whether TNNT2 mutations cause cardiomyopathies by altering cTnT function or quantity; whether the severity of DCM is related to the ratio of mutant to wildtype cTnT; whether Ca2+ desensitization occurs in DCM; and whether absence of cTnT impairs early embryonic cardiogenesis. Methods and Findings We ablated Tnnt2 to produce heterozygous Tnnt2 +/− mice, and crossbreeding produced homozygous null Tnnt2 −/− embryos. We also generated transgenic mice overexpressing wildtype (TGWT) or DCM mutant (TGK210Δ) Tnnt2. Crossbreeding produced mice lacking one allele of Tnnt2, but carrying wildtype (Tnnt2 +/−/TGWT) or mutant (Tnnt2 +/−/TGK210Δ) transgenes. Tnnt2 +/− mice relative to wildtype had significantly reduced transcript (0.82±0.06[SD] vs. 1.00±0.12 arbitrary units; p = 0.025), but not protein (1.01±0.20 vs. 1.00±0.13 arbitrary units; p = 0.44). Tnnt2 +/− mice had normal hearts (histology, mass, left ventricular end diastolic diameter [LVEDD], fractional shortening [FS]). Moreover, whereas Tnnt2 +/−/TGK210Δ mice had severe DCM, TGK210Δ mice had only mild DCM (FS 18±4 vs. 29±7%; p<0.01). The difference in severity of DCM may be attributable to a greater ratio of mutant to wildtype Tnnt2 transcript in Tnnt2 +/−/TGK210Δ relative to TGK210Δ mice (2.42±0.08, p = 0.03). Tnnt2 +/−/TGK210Δ muscle showed Ca2+ desensitization (pCa50 = 5.34±0.08 vs. 5.58±0.03 at sarcomere length 1.9 µm, p<0.01), but no difference in maximum force generation. Day 9.5 Tnnt2 −/− embryos had normally looped hearts, but thin ventricular walls, large pericardial effusions, noncontractile hearts, and severely disorganized sarcomeres. Conclusions Absence of one Tnnt2 allele leads to a mild deficit in transcript but not protein, leading to a normal cardiac phenotype. DCM results from abnormal function of a mutant protein, which is associated with myocyte Ca2+ desensitization. The severity of DCM depends on the ratio of mutant to wildtype Tnnt2 transcript. cTnT is essential for sarcomere formation, but normal embryonic heart looping occurs without contractile activity.

Gene-Targeted Mice with the Human Troponin T R141W Mutation Develop Dilated Cardiomyopathy with Calcium Desensitization

Most studies of the mechanisms leading to hereditary dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) have been performed in reconstituted in vitro systems. Genetically engineered murine models offer the opportunity to dissect these mechanisms in vivo. We generated a gene-targeted knock-in murine model of the autosomal dominant Arg141Trp (R141W) mutation in Tnnt2, which was first described in a human family with DCM. Mice heterozygous for the mutation (Tnnt2R141W/+) recapitulated the human phenotype, developing left ventricular dilation and reduced contractility. There was a gene dosage effect, so that the phenotype in Tnnt2R141W/+mice was attenuated by transgenic overexpression of wildtype Tnnt2 mRNA transcript. Male mice exhibited poorer survival than females. Biomechanical studies on skinned fibers from Tnnt2R141W/+ hearts showed a significant decrease in pCa50 (-log[Ca2+] required for generation of 50% of maximal force) relative to wildtype hearts, indicating Ca2+ desensitization. Optical mapping studies of Langendorff-perfused Tnnt2R141W/+ hearts showed marked increases in diastolic and peak systolic intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i), and prolonged systolic rise and diastolic fall of [Ca2+]i. Perfused Tnnt2R141W/+ hearts had slower intrinsic rates in sinus rhythm and reduced peak heart rates in response to isoproterenol. Tnnt2R141W/+ hearts exhibited a reduction in phosphorylated phospholamban relative to wildtype mice. However, crossing Tnnt2R141W/+ mice with phospholamban knockout (Pln-/-) mice, which exhibit increased Ca2+ transients and contractility, had no effect on the DCM phenotype. We conclude that the Tnnt2 R141W mutation causes a Ca2+ desensitization and mice adapt by increasing Ca2+-transient amplitudes, which impairs Ca2+ handling dynamics, metabolism and responses to β-adrenergic activation.