Todd E. Gillis

Investigation of thin filament near‐neighbour regulatory unit interactions during force development in skinned cardiac and skeletal muscle

Ca2+‐dependent activation of striated muscle involves cooperative interactions of cross‐bridges and thin filament regulatory proteins. We investigated how interactions between individual structural regulatory units (RUs; 1 tropomyosin, 1 troponin, 7 actins) influence the level and rate of demembranated (skinned) cardiac muscle force development by exchanging native cardiac troponin (cTn) with different ratio mixtures of wild‐type (WT) cTn and cTn containing WT cardiac troponin T/I + cardiac troponin C (cTnC) D65A (a site II inactive cTnC mutant). Maximal Ca2+‐activated force (Fmax) increased in less than a linear manner with WT cTn. This contrasts with results we obtained previously in skeletal fibres (using sTnC D28A, D65A) where Fmax increased in a greater than linear manner with WT sTnC, and suggests that Ca2+ binding to each functional Tn activates < 7 actins of a structural regulatory unit in cardiac muscle and > 7 actins in skeletal muscle. The Ca2+ sensitivity of force and rate of force redevelopment (ktr) was leftward shifted by 0.1–0.2 −log [Ca2+] (pCa) units as WT cTn content was increased, but the slope of the force–pCa relation and maximal ktr were unaffected by loss of near‐neighbour RU interactions. Cross‐bridge inhibition (with butanedione monoxime) or augmentation (with 2 deoxy‐ATP) had no greater effect in cardiac muscle with disruption of near‐neighbour RU interactions, in contrast to skeletal muscle fibres where the effect was enhanced. The rate of Ca2+ dissociation was found to be > 2‐fold faster from whole cardiac Tn compared with skeletal Tn. Together the data suggest that in cardiac (as opposed to skeletal) muscle, Ca2+ binding to individual Tn complexes is insufficient to completely activate their corresponding RUs, making thin filament activation level more dependent on concomitant Ca2+ binding at neighbouring Tn sites and/or crossbridge feedback effects on Ca2+ binding affinity.

Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy-related cardiac troponin C mutation L29Q affects Ca2+ binding and myofilament contractility

The cardiac troponin C (cTnC) mutation, L29Q, has been found in a patient with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We previously showed that L29, together with neighboring residues, Asp2, Val28, and Gly30, plays an important role in determining the Ca(2+) affinity of site II, the regulatory site of mammalian cardiac troponin C (McTnC). Here we report on the Ca(2+) binding characteristics of L29Q McTnC and D2N/V28I/L29Q/G30D McTnC (NIQD) utilizing the Phe(27) --> Trp (F27W) substitution, allowing one to monitor Ca(2+) binding and release. We also studied the effect of these mutants on Ca(2+) activation of force generation in single mouse cardiac myocytes using cTnC replacement, together with sarcomere length (SL) dependence. The Ca(2+)-binding affinity of site II of L29Q McTnC(F27W) and NIQD McTnC(F27W) was approximately 1.3- and approximately 1.9-fold higher, respectively, than that of McTnC(F27W). The Ca(2+) disassociation rate from site II of L29Q McTnC(F27W) and NIQD McTnC(F27W) was not significantly different than that of control (McTnC(F27W)). However, the rate of Ca(2+) binding to site II was higher in L29Q McTnC(F27W) and NIQD McTnC(F27W) relative to control (approximately 1.5-fold and approximately 2.0-fold respectively). The Ca(2+) sensitivity of force generation was significantly higher in myocytes reconstituted with L29Q McTnC (approximately 1.4-fold) and NIQD McTnC (approximately 2-fold) compared with those reconstituted with McTnC. Interestingly, the change in Ca(2+) sensitivity of force generation in response to an SL change (1.9, 2.1, and 2.3 mum) was significantly reduced in myocytes containing L29Q McTnC or NIQD McTnC. These results demonstrate that the L29Q mutation enhances the Ca(2+)-binding characteristics of cTnC and that when incorporated into cardiac myocytes, this mutant alters myocyte contractility.

Thin‐filament regulation of force redevelopment kinetics in rabbit skeletal muscle fibres

Thin‐filament regulation of isometric force redevelopment (ktr) was examined in rabbit psoas fibres by substituting native TnC with either cardiac TnC (cTnC), a site I‐inactive skeletal TnC mutant (xsTnC), or mixtures of native purified skeletal TnC (sTnC) and a site I‐ and II‐inactive skeletal TnC mutant (xxsTnC). Reconstituted maximal Ca2+‐activated force (rFmax) decreased as the fraction of sTnC in sTnC: xxsTnC mixtures was reduced, but maximal ktr was unaffected until rFmax was <0.2 of pre‐extracted Fmax. In contrast, reconstitution with cTnC or xsTnC reduced maximal ktr to 0.48 and 0.44 of control (P < 0.01), respectively, with corresponding rFmax of 0.68 ± 0.03 and 0.25 ± 0.02 Fmax. The ktr–pCa relation of fibres containing sTnC: xxsTnC mixtures (rFmax > 0.2 Fmax) was little effected, though ktr was slightly elevated at low Ca2+ activation. The magnitude of the Ca2+‐dependent increase in ktr was greatly reduced following cTnC or xsTnC reconstitution because ktr at low levels of Ca2+ was elevated and maximal ktr was reduced. Solution Ca2+ dissociation rates (koff) from whole Tn complexes containing sTnC (26 ± 0.1 s−1), cTnC (38 ± 0.9 s−1) and xsTnC (50 ± 1.2 s−1) correlated with ktr at low Ca2+ levels and were inversely related to rFmax. At low Ca2+ activation, ktr was similarly elevated in cTnC‐reconstituted fibres with ATP or when cross‐bridge cycling rate was increased with 2‐deoxy‐ATP. Our results and model simulations indicate little or no requirement for cooperative interactions between thin‐filament regulatory units in modulating ktr at any [Ca2+] and suggest Ca2+ activation properties of individual troponin complexes may influence the apparent rate constant of cross‐bridge detachment.

The ontogeny of regulatory control of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) heart and how this is influenced by chronic hypoxia exposure.

SUMMARY Salmonid embryos develop in cool waters over relatively long periods of time. Interestingly, hypoxic conditions have been found to be relatively common in some nesting sites (redds). The goals of this study were to determine the ontogeny of cardiac regulation in rainbow trout early life stages and how this is influenced by chronic hypoxia. The heart rate response to cholinergic and adrenergic receptor stimulation or inhibition was measured in individuals reared in normoxic (100% O2 saturation) or hypoxic (30% O2 saturation) conditions from fertilization to embryonic stages 22, 26 and 29, and larval stages 30 and 32. In normoxia, heart rate increased in response to β-adrenergic receptor stimulation (isoproterenol) as early as embryonic stage 22, and decreased with the antagonist propranolol after this stage. Cholinergic stimulation (acetylcholine) was ineffective at all stages, but atropine (acetylcholine antagonist) increased heart rate at larval stage 32. This demonstrates that cardiac β-adrenergic receptors are functional at early life stages, while cholinergic receptors are not responsive until after hatching. Collectively, embryos had cardio-acceleration control mechanisms in place just after the heartbeat stage, while cardio-inhibitory control was not functional until after hatching. Chronic hypoxia exposure triggered bradycardia, increased the response to adrenergic stimulation in embryos and larvae, and delayed the onset of cholinergic control in larvae. In non-motile stages, therefore, survival in chronic low oxygen may depend on the ability to alter the cardiac ontogenic program to meet the physiological requirements of the developing fish.

Evolution of the regulatory control of vertebrate striated muscle: the roles of troponin I and myosin binding protein-C

Troponin I (TnI) and myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C) are key regulatory proteins of contractile function in vertebrate muscle. TnI modulates the Ca(2+) activation signal, while MyBP-C regulates cross-bridge cycling kinetics. In vertebrates, each protein is distributed as tissue-specific paralogs in fast skeletal (fs), slow skeletal (ss), and cardiac (c) muscles. The purpose of this study is to characterize how TnI and MyBP-C have changed during the evolution of vertebrate striated muscle and how tissue-specific paralogs have adapted to different physiological conditions. To accomplish this we have completed phylogenetic analyses using the amino acid sequences of all known TnI and MyBP-C isoforms. This includes 99 TnI sequences (fs, ss, and c) from 51 different species and 62 MyBP-C sequences from 26 species, with representatives from each vertebrate group. Results indicate that the role of protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC) in regulating contractile function has changed during the evolution of vertebrate striated muscle. This is reflected in an increased number of phosphorylatable sites in cTnI and cMyBP-C in endothermic vertebrates and the loss of two PKC sites in fsTnI in a common ancestor of mammals, birds, and reptiles. In addition, we find that His(132), Val(134), and Asn(141) in human ssTnI, previously identified as enabling contractile function during cellular acidosis, are present in all vertebrate cTnI isoforms except those from monotremes, marsupials, and eutherian mammals. This suggests that the replacement of these residues with alternative residues coincides with the evolution of endothermy in the mammalian lineage.

Influence of enhanced troponin C Ca2+-binding affinity on cooperative thin filament activation in rabbit skeletal muscle

We studied how enhanced skeletal troponin C (sTnC) Ca2+‐binding affinity affects cooperative thin filament activation and contraction in single demembranated rabbit psoas fibres. Three sTnC mutants were created and incorporated into skeletal troponin (sTn) for measurement of Ca2+ dissociation, resulting in the following order of rates: wild‐type (WT) sTnC–sTn > sTnCF27W–sTn > M80Q sTnC–sTn > M80Q sTnCF27W–sTn. Reconstitution of sTnC‐extracted fibres increased Ca2+ sensitivity of steady‐state force (pCa50) by 0.08 for M80Q sTnC, 0.15 for sTnCF27W and 0.32 for M80Q sTnCF27W with minimal loss of slope (nH, degree of cooperativity). Near‐neighbour thin filament regulatory unit (RU) interactions were reduced in fibres by incorporating mixtures of WT or mutant sTnC and D28A, D64A sTnC (xxsTnC) that does not bind Ca2+ at N‐terminal sites. Reconstitution with sTnC: xxsTnC mixtures to 20% of pre‐exchanged maximal force reduced pCa50 by 0.35 for sTnC: xxsTnC, 0.25 for M80Q sTnC: xxsTnC, and 0.10 for M80Q sTnCF27W: xxsTnC. It is interesting that pCa50 increased by ∼0.1 for M80Q sTnC and ∼0.3 for M80Q sTnCF27W when near‐neighbour RU interactions were reduced; these values are similar in magnitude to those for fibres reconstituted with 100% mutant sTnC. After reconstitution with sTnC: xxsTnC mixtures, nH decreased to a similar value for all mutant sTnCs. Altered sTnC Ca2+‐binding properties (M80Q sTnCF27W) did not affect strong crossbridge inhibition by 2,3‐butanedione monoxime when near‐neighbour thin filament RU interactions were reduced. Together these results suggest increased sTnC Ca2+ affinity strongly influences Ca2+ sensitivity of steady‐state force without affecting near‐neighbour thin filament RU cooperative activation or the relative contribution of crossbridges versus Ca2+ to thin filament activation.

The influence of trout cardiac troponin I and PKA phosphorylation on the Ca2+ affinity of the cardiac troponin complex

SUMMARY The trout heart is 10-fold more sensitive to Ca2+ than the mammalian heart. This difference is due, in part, to cardiac troponin C (cTnC) from trout having a greater Ca2+ affinity than human cTnC. To determine what other proteins are involved, we cloned cardiac troponin I (cTnI) from the trout heart and determined how it alters the Ca2+ affinity of a cTn complex containing all mammalian components (mammalian cTn). Ca2+ activation of the complex was characterized using a human cTnC mutant that contains anilinonapthalenesulfote iodoacetamide attached to Cys53. When the cTn complex containing labeled human cTnC was titrated with Ca2+, its fluorescence changed, reaching an asymptote upon saturation. Our results reveal that trout cTnI lacks the N-terminal extension found in cTnI from all other vertebrate groups. This protein domain contains two targets (Ser23 and Ser24) for protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C. When these are phosphorylated, the rate of cardiomyocyte relaxation increases. When rat cTnI in the mammalian cTn complex was replaced with trout cTnI, the Ca2+ affinity was increased ∼1.8-fold. This suggests that trout cTnI contributes to the high Ca2+ sensitivity of the trout heart. Treatment of the two cTn complexes with PKA decreased the Ca2+ affinity of both complexes. However, the change for the complex containing rat cTnI was 2.2-fold that of the complex containing trout cTnI. This suggests that the phosphorylation of trout cTnI does not play as significant a role in regulating cTn function in trout.