Control of muscle contraction

Ca2+ and activation mechanisms in skeletal muscle

It has been known for a number of years that calcium ions play a crucial role in excitation-contraction (e-c) coupling (Sandow, 1952). The majority of the calcium required for this process is derived, at least in vertebrate striated muscle fibres, from discrete intracellular stores located at sites within the cell: the terminal cysternae (tc)/junctional SR of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) (Fig. 1 a). These storage sites not only form a compartment that is distinct from the sarcoplasm of the fibre, but they are also closely associated with the contractile elements, the myofibrils. The SR release sites are activated following the spread of electrical activity (Huxley and Taylor, 1958) along the transverse (T) tubular system (Eisenberg and Gage, 1967; Adrian et al. 1969a, b; Peachey, 1973) from the surface membrane (Bm).

The apparent rate constant for the dissociation of force generating myosin crossbridges from actin decreases during Ca2+ activation of skinned muscle fibres

The effect of Ca2+ activation on the apparent rate constant governing the dissociation of force generating myosin crossbridges was studied in skinned rabbit adductor magnus fibres (fast-twitch) at 21 +/- 1 degree C. Simultaneous measurements of Ca2(+)-activated isometric force and ATPase activity were conducted in parallel with simultaneous measurements of DANZ-labelled troponin C (TnCDANZ) fluorescence and isometric force in fibres whose endogenous troponin C had been partially replaced with TnCDANZ. The Ca2+ activation of isometric force occurred at approximately two times higher Ca2+ concentration than did actomyosin ATPase activity at 2.0 mM MgATP. Since increases in both TnCDANZ fluorescence and ATPase activity occurred over approximately the same Ca2+ concentration range at substantially lower concentrations of Ca2+ than did force, this data suggests that the TnCDANZ fluorescence is associated with the Ca2+ activation of myosin crossbridge turnover (ATPase) rather than force. According to the model of Huxley (1957) and assuming the hydrolysis of one molecule of ATP per cycle of the crossbridge, the apparent rate constant gapp for the dissociation of force generating myosin crossbridges is proportional to the actomyosin ATPase/isometric force ratio. This measure of gapp shows approximately a fivefold decrease during Ca2+ activation of isometric force. This change in gapp is responsible for separation of the Ca2+ sensitivity of the normalized ATPase activity and isometric force curves. If the MgATP concentration is reduced to 0.5 mM, the change in gapp is reduced and consequently the difference in Ca2+ sensitivity between normalized steady state ATPase and force is also reduced.

Epitope mapping of monoclonal antibodies against caldesmon and their effects on the binding of caldesmon to Ca++/calmodulin and to actin or actin-tropomyosin filaments

The effects of monoclonal anti-caldesmon antibodies, C2, C9, C18, C21, and C23, on the binding of caldesmon to F-actin/F-actin-tropomyosin filaments and to Ca++/calmodulin were examined in an in vitro reconstitution system. In addition, the antibody epitopes were mapped by Western blot analysis of NTCB (2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid) and CNBr (cyanogen bromide) fragments of caldesmon. Both C9 and C18 recognize an amino terminal fragment composed of amino acid residues 19 to 153. The C23 epitope lies within a fragment ranging from residues 230 to 386. Included in this region is a 13-residue repeat sequence. Interestingly this repetitive sequence shares sequence similarity with a sequence found in nuclear lamin A, a protein which is also recognized by C23 antibody. Therefore, it is likely that the C23 epitope corresponds to this 13-residue repeat sequence. A carboxyl-terminal 10K fragment contains the epitopes for antibodies C2 and C21. Among these antibodies, only C21 drastically inhibits the binding of caldesmon to F-actin/F-actin-tropomyosin filaments and to Ca++/calmodulin. When the molar ratio of monoclonal antibody C21 to caldesmon reached 1.0, a maximal inhibition (90%) on the binding of caldesmon to F-actin filaments was observed. However, it required double amounts of C21 antibody to exhibit a maximal inhibition of 70% on the binding of caldesmon to F-actin-tropomyosin filaments. These results suggest that the presence of tropomyosin in F-actin enhances caldesmon's binding. Furthermore, C21 antibody also effectively inhibits the caldesmon binding to Ca++/calmodulin. The kinetics of C21 inhibition on caldesmon's binding to Ca++/calmodulin is very similar to the inhibition obtained by preincubation of caldesmon with free Ca++/calmodulin. This result suggests that there is only one Ca++/calmodulin binding domain on caldesmon and this domain appears to be very close to the C21 epitope. Apparently, the Ca++/calmodulin-binding domain and the actin-binding domain are very close to each other and may interfere with each other. In an accompanying paper, we have further demonstrated that microinjection of C21 antibody into living chicken embryo fibroblasts inhibit intracellular granule movement, suggesting an in vivo interference with the functional domains [Hegmann et al., 1991: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 20:109-120].

Inhibition of sliding movement of F-actin by crosslinking emphasizes the role of actin structure in the mechanism of motility

The effects of crosslinking of monomeric and polymeric actin with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC), disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS) and glutaraldehyde on the interaction with heavy meromyosin (HMM) in solution and on the sliding movement on glass-attached HMM were examined. The Vmax values of actin-activated HMM ATPase decreased in the following order: intact actin = EDC F-actin greater than DSS actin greater than glutaraldehyde F-actin = glutaraldehyde G-actin greater than EDC G-actin. The affinity of actin for HMM in the presence of ATP decreased in the following order: DSS actin greater than glutaraldehyde F-actin = glutaraldehyde G-actin greater than intact actin greater than EDC F-actin greater than EDC G-actin. However, sliding movement was inhibited only in the case of glutaraldehyde-crosslinked F and G-actin and EDC-crosslinked G-actin. Interestingly, after copolymerization of "non-motile" glutaraldehyde or EDC-crosslinked monomers with "motile" monomers of intact actin sliding of the copolymers was observed and its rate was independent of the type of crosslinked monomer, i.e. of the manner of their interaction with HMM. These data strongly indicate that inhibition of the sliding of actin by crosslinking cannot be explained entirely by changes in the Vmax value or affinity for myosin heads. We conclude that movement is generated by interaction of myosin with segments of F-actin containing a number of intact monomers, and the mechanism of inhibition involves an effect of the crosslinkers on the structure of F-actin itself.

Regulation of binding of subfragment 1 in isolated rigor myofibrils

A steric-hindrance model has been used to explain the regulation of muscle contraction by tropomyosin-troponin complex. The regulation of binding was studied by microscopic observation of mixtures of fluorescent subfragment 1 (S1) with rigor myofibrils at different actin-to-S1 ratios and in the presence and absence of calcium. Procedures were adapted to protect the critical thiols of S1 before conjugation to thiol-specific fluorochromes, this giving fluorescent S1 with unaltered enzyme activity. S1 binding was greatest in the I band (except at the Z-lines) in the presence of calcium regardless of the [S1]. The patterns in the absence of calcium depended on the actin-to-S1 ratios: low [S1], binding in the myosin-actin overlap region; intermediate [S1], highest binding at the A-I junction; high [S1], greatest binding in the I-band. The two distinct binding patterns observed at low [S1] were demonstrated by dual-channel fluorescence microscopy when myofibrils were sequentially incubated with fluorescent S1 without calcium followed by a different fluorescent S1 with calcium. These observations support the concept of rigor activation of actin sites. The change in the pattern upon increasing [S1] without calcium demonstrate cooperative interactions along the thin filament. However, these interactions (under the conditions used without calcium) do not appear to extend over greater than 2-3 tropomyosin-troponin-7 actin functional units.

Molecular tools to elucidate problems in excitation-contraction coupling

In this review, constituting the 1990 International Lecture of the Biophysical Society, research is described in two areas in which molecular genetic techniques were used to dissect problems related to sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins: the use of site-directed mutagenesis to gain insight into the mechanism of Ca2+ transport by the Ca2(+)-ATPase; and the use of cloning and genetic linkage analysis to identify the Ca2+ release channel (RYR1) gene as a candidate gene for the predisposition to malignant hyperthermia, a neuromuscular disease of humans and domestic animals.

Tropomyosin from the striated muscles of carp (Cyprinus carpio) and of icefish (Channichthys rhinoceratus)

Tropomyosin of fast-twitch, slow-twitch and cardiac muscles of carp and icefish has been isolated by hydroxyapatite chromatography. The subunit distribution has been investigated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by peptide mapping. The purified skeletal muscle tropomyosins all belong to the alpha family and differ from higher vertebrate tropomyosin by the lack of beta subunits. Specific alpha isotypes are however encountered in fast-twitch fibres (alpha w subunit) and slow-twitch or intermediate (pink) fibres (alpha and alpha w subunits). The amino acid compositions and the paracrystals formed by the carp alpha w alpha w and alpha alpha w tropomyosins do not differ markedly from that of rabbit alpha alpha chains. They differ however by their capability to inhibit the ATPase activity of rabbit skeletal muscle acto-HMM system. A beta-like subunit is found in carp cardiac tropomyosin, in the proportion of 25% of the native protein, but not in icefish heart.

Modulation of smooth muscle calponin by protein kinase C and calmodulin

When smooth muscle calponin was incubated with protein kinase C, 1 mole of phosphate was incorporated per mole of calponin. The apparent Km value for calponin of the protein kinase was about 0.4 microM. The phosphorylation of calponin by protein kinase C was inhibited markedly by calmodulin in a calcium-dependent manner. Kinetic analysis of calmodulin-induced inhibition of calponin phosphorylation by protein kinase C revealed that calmodulin inhibited the phosphorylation in a noncompetitive fashion with calponin and the determined Ki value was 0.4 microM. These results suggest that interaction of calmodulin with calponin may play a regulatory role in the phosphorylation by protein kinase C and smooth muscle contraction.

The theory of sliding filament models for muscle contraction. II. Biochemically-based models of the contraction cycle

A seven-state sliding filament model is proposed which differs from the model of Eisenberg & Greene. It is based on a simplified version of the in-vitro contraction cycle of Stein et al., and also has some desirable dynamical features of the empirical three-state model of Nishiyama & Murase. Appropriate x-dependences for all reaction rates are derived from the transition-state theory. The seventh-state is assumed to be a high-tension intermediate of A.M.ATP, from which direct but x-dependent dissociation can occur. If the final A.M.ATP state has a sufficiently lower tension than that of A.M.ADP.Pi, then the dominant escape path from the intermediate state is shown to be direct dissociation of the actin-myosin bond. This leads to an approximate five-state model for active and relaxed muscle in which A.M and the final A.M.ATP state are omitted.

Large-scale structural changes in the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase appear essential for calcium transport

Model refinement calculations utilizing the results from time-resolved x-ray diffraction studies indicate that specific, large-scale changes (i.e., structural changes over a large length scale or long range) occur throughout the cylindrically averaged profile structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum ATPase upon its phosphorylation during calcium active transport. Several physical-chemical factors, all of which slow the kinetics of phosphoenzyme formation, induce specific, large-scale changes throughout the profile structure of the unphosphorylated enzyme that in general are opposite to those observed upon phosphorylation. These results suggest that such large-scale structural changes in the ATPase occurring upon its phosphorylation are required for its calcium transport function.

Tropomyosin has discrete actin-binding sites with sevenfold and fourteenfold periodicities

Analysis of the periodic distribution of amino acids in tropomyosin has revealed the presence of seven or 14 quasi-equivalent actin-binding sites. We tested the hypothesis of periodic actin-binding sites by making deletions of chicken striated alpha-tropomyosin cDNA using oligonucleotide-directed mutagenesis. The deletions corresponded to one-half (amino acid residues 47 to 67), two-thirds (residues 47 to 74) and one actin-binding site (residues 47 to 88), on the basis of there being seven sites. The mutant cDNAs were expressed as fusion and non-fusion proteins in Escherichia coli and analyzed for actin binding and regulatory function. Fusion tropomyosin binds to actin with an affinity similar to that of muscle tropomyosin. Of the mutant fusion tropomyosins, only that with a full site deleted retained actin affinity and the ability to inhibit the actomyosin S1 ATPase, though it was less effective than wild-type. We conclude that an integral number of half-turns of the tropomyosin coiled-coil, and the consequential sevenfold periodicity, as well as the correct orientation of the ends with respect to each other, are important for actin binding. On the other hand, non-fusion tropomyosin binds well to actin only in the presence of troponin, and the binding is calcium-sensitive. Assay of non-fusion mutant tropomyosins showed that mutants with deletion of one-half and one actin binding site both had high affinity for actin, equal to or slightly less than wild-type. The ability of these two mutants to regulate the actomyosin or acto-S1 ATPase with troponin in the absence of calcium was indistinguishable from that of the wild-type. The normal regulatory function of the mutant with a 1/14 deletion (removal of a quarter turn or half a site) indicates that a 14-fold periodicity is adequate for regulation, consistent with the presence of two sets of seven alpha and seven beta quasi-equivalent actin-binding sites. An alternative explanation is that the alpha-sites are of primary importance and that proper alignment of the alpha-sites in every second tropomyosin, as when half a site is deleted, is sufficient for normal regulatory function. Deletion of a non-integral period (2/3 of a site) severely compromised actin-binding and regulatory function, presumably due to the inability of the mutant to align properly on the actin filament.

Phosphoinositides in frog skeletal muscle: a quantitative analysis

The contents of major phospholipids per g of wet wt. in frog skeletal muscle are: 5.3 mumol PC; 1.4 mumol PE; 1 mumol SM; 0.4 mumol PtdIns; 0.3 mumol CL; and 0.13 mumol PS. The quantities of polyphosphoinositides per g of wet wt. are: 181 nmol PtInsP; 28 nmol PtdInsP2; and 8 nmol lyso-PtdInsP2. The specific activity of labelling of the total muscle ATP attained by external incubation with [32P]Pi was found to be 57 dpm/nmol x g muscle wet wt. PtdInsP2, the highest labelled polyphosphoinositide, showed a specific activity of 64,000 dpm/nmol per g muscle wet wt., suggesting that high specific activity ATP may be compartmentalized in the local environment of the triads and used as a substrate by the PtdIns and PtInsP kinase in that region. PtdInsP2 which is the immediate precursor for the release of InsP3, is found at a significant concentration and strategically located for its postulated role as a substrate for the action of phosphoinositidase C. The presence of a novel endogenous polyphosphoinositide, lyso-PtdInsP2, in animal tissues is reported for the first time. Electrical stimulation leads towards a rapid catabolization of polyphosphoinositides revealed by reductions in the 3H- and 32P-labelling, suggesting that muscle excitation is associated with the activation of breaking down of polyphosphoinositides.

Resonance energy transfer between points in a reconstituted skeletal muscle thin filament. A conformational change of the thin filament in response to a change in Ca2+ concentration

The spatial relationships between Lys-61, Cys-374 on actin or SH1 on myosin subfragment-1 (S1) and Cys-190 on tropomyosin or Cys-133 on troponin-I (TnI) in a reconstituted thin filament were studied by fluorescence resonance energy transfer. 5-(2-Iodoacetylaminoethyl)aminonaphthalene 1-sulfonic acid (IAEDANS) attached to Lys-190 on tropomyosin or to Cys-133 on TnI was used as a donor. Fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate (FITC) attached to Lys-61 or 5-(iodoacetoamido)fluorescein (IAF) attached to Cys-374 on actin and 4-dimethylaminophenyl-azophenyl 4'-maleimide (DABMI) attached to SH1 on S1 were used as an acceptor. The transfer efficiency between AEDANS attached to Cys-190 on tropomyosin and FITC attached to Lys-61 on actin was 0.42 in the absence of troponin, 0.46 in the presence of troponin and Ca2+ and 0.55 in the presence of troponin and absence of Ca2+. The corresponding distances between the probes were calculated to be 4.7 nm, 4.6 nm and 4.3 nm respectively, assuming a random orientation factor K2 = 2/3. A large difference in the transfer efficiency from AEDANS attached to Cys-133 on TnI to FITC attached to Lys-61 on actin was observed between in the presence (0.52) and absence (0.70) of Ca2+. The corresponding distances between the probes were calculated to be 4.5 nm in the presence of Ca2+ and 3.9 nm in the absence of Ca2+. The distance between Cys-190 on tropomyosin and Cys-374 on actin was measured to be 5.1 nm and the transfer efficiency (0.35) did not change upon addition of troponin whether Ca2+ is present or not, in agreement with the previous report [Tao, T., Lamkin, M. & Lehrer, S. S. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 3059-3064]. The distance between Cys-133 on TnI and Cys-374 on actin was measured to be 4.4 nm. No detectable change in transfer efficiency (0.58) was observed between values in the presence and absence of Ca2+. These results suggest that a relative movement of the two domains of actin monomer in a reconstituted thin filament occurs in response to a change in Ca2+ concentration. The transfer efficiencies between DABMI attached to SH1 on S1 and AEDANS attached to Cys-190 on tropomyosin or Cys-133 on TnI were too small (less than 2%) for an accurate estimation of the distances, suggesting the distances are longer than 7.3 nm.

Probing the role of nonmuscle tropomyosin isoforms in intracellular granule movement by microinjection of monoclonal antibodies

Chicken embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells were microinjected with several different monoclonal antibodies that recognize certain nonmuscle isoforms of tropomyosin. Immediately after injection, cells were recorded with a time-lapse video imaging system; later analysis of the tapes revealed that particles in cells injected with one of these antibodies (CG1, specific for CEF tropomyosin isoforms 1 and 3) showed a dramatic decrease in instantaneous speed while moving, distance moved per saltation, and proportion of time spent in motion. Injection of Fab fragments of CG1 resulted in similar changes in the pattern of granule movement. This inhibition of granule movement by CG1 antibody was reversible; at 2.5 h after injection, granules in injected cells had already reached three-fourths of normal speed. The speed of granule movement in cells injected either with antibody specific for tropomyosin isoforms not present in CEF cells, or with CG1 antibody preabsorbed with tropomyosin, was not significantly different from the speed of granules in uninjected cells. When cells were injected with CG1 or Fab fragments of CG1, fixed, and counter-stained with rabbit antibodies to reveal the microtubule, microfilament, and intermediate filament systems, no obvious differences from the patterns normally seen in uninjected cells were observed. Examination of the ultrastructure of injected cells by EM confirmed the presence of apparently intact and normal microtubule, actin, and intermediate filament networks. These experiments suggest that tropomyosin may play an important role in the movement of vesicles and organelles in the cell cytoplasm. Also, we have shown previously that the CG1 determinant can undergo a motility-dependent change in reactivity, that may be important for the regulatory function of nonmuscle tropomyosin (Hegmann, T. E., J. L.-C. Lin, and J. J.-C. Lin. 1988. J. Cell Biol. 106:385-393). Therefore, in addition to postulated microtubule-based motors, microfilaments may play a critical role in regulating granule movement in nonmuscle cells.

A calsequestrin-like protein in the endoplasmic reticulum of the sea urchin: localization and dynamics in the egg and first cell cycle embryo

Using an antiserum produced against a purified calsequestrin-like (CSL) protein from a microsomal fraction of sea urchin eggs, we performed light and electron microscopic immunocytochemical localizations on sea urchin eggs and embryos in the first cell cycle. The sea urchin CSL protein has been found to bind Ca++ similarly to calsequestrin, the well-characterized Ca++ storage protein in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of muscle cells. In semi-thin frozen sections of unfertilized eggs, immunofluorescent staining revealed a tubuloreticular network throughout the cytoplasm. Staining of isolated egg cortices with the CSL protein antiserum showed the presence of a submembranous polygonal, tubular network similar to ER network patterns seen in other cells and in egg cortices treated with the membrane staining dye DiIC16[3]. In frozen sections of embryos during interphase of the first cell cycle, a cytoplasmic network similar to that of the unfertilized egg was present. During mitosis, we observed a dramatic concentration of the antibody staining within the asters of the mitotic apparatus where ER is known to aggregate. Electron microscopic localization on unfertilized eggs using peroxidase-labeled secondary antibody demonstrated the presence of the CSL protein within the luminal compartment of ER-like tubules. Finally, in frozen sections of centrifugally stratified eggs, the immunofluorescent staining concentrated in the clear zone: a layer highly enriched in ER and thought to be the site of calcium release upon fertilization. This localization of a CSL protein within the ER of the egg provides evidence for the ability of this organelle to serve a Ca++ storage role in the regulation of intracellular Ca++ in nonmuscle cells in general, and in the regulation of fertilization and cell division in sea urchin eggs in particular.

Flexibility of smooth and skeletal tropomyosins

The rotational relaxation times of nonpolymerizable skeletal and smooth muscle tropomyosin were measured by analysis of the decay of the zero-field birefringence at different temperatures and salt concentrations. Skeletal tropomyosin in solution is equally well modeled as a rigid rod or as a semiflexible rod with a persistence length of 150 nm. Smooth muscle tropomyosin does not fit the rigid rod model but is well approximated by a semiflexible rod model with a persistence length of 55 nm. The results indicate that smooth muscle tropomyosin is either a more flexible molecule than skeletal muscle tropomyosin or is a curved structure with an end-to-end length shorter than the coiled-coil contour length. Smooth muscle tropomyosin controls the actomyosin ATPase differently from skeletal muscle tropomyosin and it had been suggested that the reason is because it is more rigid; clearly, another explanation must be sought.

Isolation and characterization of related cDNA clones encoding skeletal muscle beta-tropomyosin and a low-molecular-weight nonmuscle tropomyosin isoform

We have isolated and characterized cDNA clones from chicken cDNA libraries derived from skeletal muscle, body wall, and cultured fibroblasts. A clone isolated from a skeletal muscle cDNA library contains the complete protein-coding sequence of the 284-amino-acid skeletal muscle beta-tropomyosin together with 72 bases of 5' untranslated sequence and nearly the entire 3' untranslated region (about 660 bases), lacking only the last 4 bases and the poly(A) tail. A second clone, isolated from the fibroblast cDNA library, contains the complete protein-coding sequence of a 248-amino-acid fibroblast tropomyosin together with 77 bases of 5' untranslated sequence and 235 bases of 3' untranslated sequence through the poly(A) tract. The derived amino acid sequence from this clone exhibits only 82% homology with rat fibroblast tropomyosin 4 and 80% homology with human fibroblast tropomyosin TM30nm, indicating that this clone encodes a third 248-amino-acid tropomyosin isoform class. The protein product of this mRNA is fibroblast tropomyosin 3b, one of two low-molecular-weight isoforms expressed in chicken fibroblast cultures. Comparing the sequences of the skeletal muscle and fibroblast cDNAs with a previously characterized clone which encodes the smooth muscle alpha-tropomyosin reveals two regions of absolute homology, suggesting that these three clones were derived from the same gene by alternative RNA splicing.

Intracellular localization of inositol-phospholipid-metabolizing enzymes in rabbit fast-twitch skeletal muscle. Can D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate play a role in excitation-contraction coupling?

Rabbit fast-twitch skeletal muscle microsomes have been separated by isopycnic centrifugation on a linear sucrose gradient into triads and light sarcoplasmic reticulum. In both fractions phosphatidylinositol-kinase activity is found [Varsányi et al. (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 138, 1395]. In contrast, phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate kinase is nearly exclusively associated with triads. The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate-phosphodiesterase activity shows a biphasic distribution: approximately 50% of the activity is associated with triads and 50% appears in the overlay. Triads have been broken mechanically into transverse tubules and terminal cisternae, then separated by isopycnic sucrose-gradient centrifugation. Both fractions exhibit phosphatidylinositol-kinase activity; the activities of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate kinase and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase are associated mainly with the transverse tubules. Consequently, in rabbit fast-twitch skeletal muscle all necessary enzymes for production of D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate are associated with transverse tubules. Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase associated with triads shows a pH optimum at 6.8. The enzyme is maximally active between pCa 5 and pCa 4. Mg2+ inhibits the enzyme activity half-maximally at about 1 mM. Guanine-nucleotide-binding proteins seem not to be involved in the regulation of enzyme activity; guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate does not influence phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate phosphodiesterase activity. It correlates well with the observation that neither alpha 1-adrenergic nor muscarinic receptors have been found in fast-twitch rabbit skeletal muscle. On basis of the respective enzyme activities estimations on maximal phosphatidylinositol turnover were made and a possible involvement of this signal pathway in excitation-contraction coupling has been discussed. Furthermore, calculations show that during a single twitch D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate concentration does not reach more than 2 nM. However, during a 4-s tetanus D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate can accumulate to a level which could effect force generation [Thieleczek and Heilmeyer (1986) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 135, 662] and aldolase distribution (Thieleczek et al., unpublished results).

High-affinity Ca2+-binding site inhibiting Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes, activated by alkaline pH occurs only when EGTA is present in the release medium. Addition of very low concentrations of Ca2+ to the medium inhibits Ca2+ release. The concentration of free Ca2+ required for 50% inhibition ranges from between 5 and 20 nM in different experiments and/or membrane preparations, irrespective of whether the free Ca2+ concentration is controlled by EGTA or CDTA. Other divalent cations such as Mn2+, Ba2+, Cu2+, Cd2+ and Mg2+ also exert an inhibitory effect on Ca2+ release, with higher or lower potency than that of Ca2+. The inactivation of Ca2+ release by Ca2+ is reversible. We suggest the involvement of high-affinity Ca2+-binding sites in the control of Ca2+ release.

Isolation and characterization of related cDNA clones encoding skeletal muscle beta-tropomyosin and a low-molecular-weight nonmuscle tropomyosin isoform

We have isolated and characterized cDNA clones from chicken cDNA libraries derived from skeletal muscle, body wall, and cultured fibroblasts. A clone isolated from a skeletal muscle cDNA library contains the complete protein-coding sequence of the 284-amino-acid skeletal muscle beta-tropomyosin together with 72 bases of 5' untranslated sequence and nearly the entire 3' untranslated region (about 660 bases), lacking only the last 4 bases and the poly(A) tail. A second clone, isolated from the fibroblast cDNA library, contains the complete protein-coding sequence of a 248-amino-acid fibroblast tropomyosin together with 77 bases of 5' untranslated sequence and 235 bases of 3' untranslated sequence through the poly(A) tract. The derived amino acid sequence from this clone exhibits only 82% homology with rat fibroblast tropomyosin 4 and 80% homology with human fibroblast tropomyosin TM30nm, indicating that this clone encodes a third 248-amino-acid tropomyosin isoform class. The protein product of this mRNA is fibroblast tropomyosin 3b, one of two low-molecular-weight isoforms expressed in chicken fibroblast cultures. Comparing the sequences of the skeletal muscle and fibroblast cDNAs with a previously characterized clone which encodes the smooth muscle alpha-tropomyosin reveals two regions of absolute homology, suggesting that these three clones were derived from the same gene by alternative RNA splicing.

Control of reactivation and microtubule sliding by calcium, strontium, and barium in detergent-extracted macrocilia of Beroë

Macrocilia of the ctenophore Beroë are activated to beat continuously in the normal direction by membrane-mediated Ca2+ influx (Tamm: Journal of Comparative Physiology [A] 163:23-31, 1988a). Using saponin or Brij-58 permeabilized models of macrocilia, we show that ATP-reactivation of beating requires microM levels of free Ca2+, Ba2+, or Sr2+. Isolated macrocilia beat initially in reactivation solution (RS) containing Ca2+, Ba2+, or Sr2+ and then undergo microtubule sliding disintegration without added proteases. Addition of protease inhibitors to RS + 10(-5) M Ca2+ prevents sliding disruption. Pretreatment in wash solution (containing 1 mM EGTA) without protease inhibitors, followed by RS + 10(-5) M Ca2+ with protease inhibitors results in extensive sliding disintegration. However, treatment in wash solution followed by RS + protease inhibitors does not induce sliding. Therefore, Ca2+ is not required for proteolysis by endogenous proteases, but is necessary for sliding disintegration. Local iontophoretic application of Ca2+, Ba2+, or Sr2+ to permeabilized macrocilia in RS lacking these cations triggers motility and/or sliding disintegration. Extrusion of microtubules occurs from the tip or the base, depending on whether or not the macrocilium remains attached to its large actin bundle. Thin sheets of microtubules telescope out initially, due to synchronized sliding of subsets of doublet microtubules from parallel rows of axonemes. Macrocilia are one of the first examples of ATP-induced microtubule sliding which retains Ca2+ sensitivity. In addition, the finding that Ba2+ and Sr2+ also trigger active sliding provides an additional method for investigating the control of dynein-powered microtubule movements.

Phosphorus nuclear magnetic resonance studies on the effect of duration of contraction in bull-frog skeletal muscles

1. Contraction and recovery of bull-frog skeletal muscles were studied using 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), with a time resolution of 16 s, at 4 degrees C. The muscles were stimulated tetanically for various periods (0.2-10 s) at a sarcomere length of 2.4 microns. Changes in the concentrations of inorganic phosphate (Pi), phosphocreatine (PCr) and other metabolites were studied for repeated cycles of contraction and recovery. 2. In resting muscles, bathed in a solution gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2, the concentration of Pi was 1.15 +/- 0.21 mmol kg-1 wet weight (mean +/- one S.D., n = 12), that of ATP was 3.32 +/- 0.15 mmol kg-1 (mean +/- one S.D., n = 12) and that of sugar phosphates was less than 0.5 mmol kg-1. The intracellular pH (pHi) was 7.22 +/- 0.01 (mean +/- one S.D., n = 12). These results are averages for fibres which probably have different values. 3. On stimulating the muscles pHi shifted in the alkaline direction and subsequently recovered. The extent of the alkaline shift was linearly related to the contraction duration (0.2-10 s) with a rate of 0.01 pH unit s-1. 4. The increase in Pi with stimulus duration was biphasic, consisting of an early burst, 0.38 +/- 0.10 mmol kg-1 (+/- 1 S.D., n = 5), complete within about 0.2-0.5 s, followed by a slower steady-state increase. The steady-state rate of Pi increase was 0.33 +/- 0.02 mmol kg-1 s-1 (+/- 1 S.D., n = 5) in agreement with the results of previous studies involving chemical analyses. 5. The time course of Pi recovery was well described by a single exponential. Intensities of ATP, sugar phosphates and the peaks in the phosphodiester region did not change during a 2 s tetanus. 6. The amount of PCr hydrolysed (-delta PCr), associated with contractions of various durations, coincided well with Pi increase (delta Pi). This was found during the whole recovery period except for the initial few minutes following relaxation when -delta PCr was significantly smaller than delta Pi. The difference was 0.35 +/- 0.03 mmol kg-1 (mean +/- 1 S.D., n = 3) immediately after a 2 s tetanus. 7. In contractions of 2 s or longer, the extent of the temporal separation between delta Pi and -delta PCr was almost the same, but in contractions of less than 2 s it was significantly reduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Moderate resolution profile structure of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane under low temperature conditions for the transient trapping of E1 approximately P

The calcium uptake reaction kinetics of isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles have previously been shown to be at least biphasic over a range of temperatures (26 to 10 degrees C) with a fast phase identified with the formation of E1 approximately P and calcium occlusion and a slow phase with Ca2+ translocation across the membrane and turnover of the Ca2+ ATPase ensemble. At "low" temperatures, namely 0 degrees C or lower, E1 approximately P formation is slowed and E1 approximately P is transiently trapped for at least several seconds, as indicated by the absence of the slow phase for 6 s or more. We now report that a reversible, temperature-induced structural transition occurs at about 2-3 degrees C for the isolated SR membrane. We have investigated the nature of this structural transition utilizing meridional and equatorial x-ray diffraction studies of the oriented SR membrane multilayers in the range of temperatures between 7.5 and -2 degrees C. The phase meridional (lamellar) diffraction has provided the profile structure for the SR membrane at the highest vs. lowest temperature at the same moderate resolution of 16-17 A while the equatorial diffraction has provided information on the average lipid chain packing in the SR membrane plane in the two cases. To identify the contribution of each membrane component in producing the differences between the profile structures at 7.5 and -2 degrees C, step-function models have been fitted to the moderate resolution electron density profiles. Lipid lateral phase separation may be responsible for inducing the structural change in the Ca2+ ATPase, thereby resulting in the slowing of E1 approximately P formation and the transient trapping of E1 approximately P at the "lower" temperatures.

Photolabile chelators for the rapid photorelease of divalent cations

The properties of a recently synthesized photolabile chelator for divalent cations are described, the affinity of which for Ca2+ changes by some 5 orders of magnitude on illumination. The compound 1-(2-nitro-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N,N,N',N'-tetrakis[(oxycarbonyl)me thyl]-1,2-ethanediamine (DM-nitrophen) binds Ca2+ (Kd approximately 5.0 x 10(-9) M) and Mg2+ (Kd approximately 2.5 x 10(-6) M) with relatively high affinities. On exposure of the DM-nitrophen-Ca2+ complex to UV light in the 350-nm range, the chelator is cleaved yielding iminodiacetic products with a much lower affinity for Ca (Kd approximately 3 x 10(-3) M) and the free [Ca2+] increases. The quantum yield for Ca2+ release is 0.18. In experiments with chemically skinned skeletal muscle fibers, a fully relaxed fiber equilibrated with DM-nitrophen-Ca2+ complex produced maximal contraction after a single flash from a frequency-doubled ruby laser (347 nm). Half-maximal tension was achieved in approximately 40 ms, some 5 times faster than that obtained after a rapid solution change from a Ca2+-free to a Ca2+-containing solution. In experiments with resealed human erythrocyte ghosts, irradiation of ghosts containing the DM-nitrophen-Ca2+ complex activates a Ca2+-dependent K+ efflux pathway, which is not observed in the absence of illumination. DM-nitrophen is sufficiently stable and photolabile to be used as a caged Ca (or caged Mg) for the rapid photoinitiation of divalent cation-dependent processes over a wide concentration range with a significant increase in temporal resolution over conventional mixing methods.

Sulfhydryl oxidation and Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum

Our interest in the role of sulfhydryl groups (SH) in regulating or altering transport across biological membranes has focused on the significance of a critical SH group associated with the Ca2+-release protein from skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). We have shown that binding of heavy metals to this group or oxidation of this sulfhydryl to a disulfide induces rapid Ca2+ release from SR vesicles and induces contraction in skinned muscle fibers. Several models are described in which oxidation and reduction might control the state of the Ca2+-release channel from SR.

Mutation of aspartic acid-351, lysine-352, and lysine-515 alters the Ca2+ transport activity of the Ca2+-ATPase expressed in COS-1 cells

Full-length cDNAs encoding neonatal and adult isoforms of the Ca2+-ATPase of rabbit fast-twitch skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum were expressed transiently in COS-1 cells. The microsomal fraction isolated from transfected COS-1 cells contained immunoreactive Ca2+-ATPase and catalyzed Ca2+ transport at rates at least 15-fold above controls. No differences were observed in either the rates or Ca2+ dependency of Ca2+ transport catalyzed by the two isoforms. Aspartic acid-351, the site of formation of the catalytic acyl phosphate in the enzyme, was mutated to asparagine, glutamic acid, serine, threonine, histidine, or alanine. In every case, Ca2+ transport activity and Ca2+-dependent phosphorylation were eliminated. Ca2+ transport was also eliminated by mutation of lysine-352 to arginine, glutamine, or glutamic acid or by mutation of Asp351-Lys352 to Lys351-Asp352. Mutation of lysine-515, the site of fluorescein isothiocyanate modification in the enzyme, resulted in diminished Ca2+ transport activity as follows: arginine, 60%; glutamine, 25%; glutamic acid, 5%. These results demonstrate the absolute requirement of acylphosphate formation for the Ca2+ transport function and define a residue important for ATP binding. They also demonstrate the feasibility of a thorough analysis of active sites in the Ca2+-ATPase by expression and site-specific mutagenesis.

Effect of Ca2+ on cross-bridge turnover kinetics in skinned single rabbit psoas fibers: implications for regulation of muscle contraction

The effect of Ca2+ upon the rate constant of force redevelopment following a period of isotonic shortening with immediate restretch to the starting sarcomere length was studied in rabbit psoas fibers at 5 degrees C. Control experiments support the assumption that the rate constant of force redevelopment represents isometric cross-bridge turnover kinetics (fapp + gapp), where fapp and gapp are the rate constants characterizing the transitions from the non-force-generating states to the force-generating states and back to the non-force-generating states, respectively. Parallel measurements of the rate constant of force redevelopment and of force, stiffness, and fiber ATPase during isometric contraction allow the effect of Ca2+ upon fapp and gapp to be determined. Analysis reveals that Ca2+ has a marked effect upon fapp, while gapp remains approximately unchanged. Furthermore, in the range above 25-30% of maximum Ca2+ activation, regulation of force, stiffness, and ATPase is mediated through changes in fapp. Below this range, however, it cannot be ruled out that, in addition, cross-bridges are also switched in and out of the turnover process ("recruitment"). As a consequence of regulation through turnover kinetics, both Ca2+ sensitivity and the slope of force-pCa (-log[Ca2+]) relations are shown to be affected by the ratio fapp/gapp, which may represent an important mechanism of modulation of contractile function in addition to modulation through changes within the regulatory protein system.

Contractile properties of chemically skinned fibers from pregnant rat myometrium: existence of an internal Ca-store

Smooth muscle fibers isolated from pregnant rat myometrium were skinned by saponin treatment. Properties of the contractile system and the involvement of an intracellular source of activator calcium were studied. (1) In the presence of 4 mM total EGTA, skinned fibers contracted in a concentration-dependent manner to micromolar applications of calcium ions. Rat myometrium exhibited a high calcium sensitivity (80% of the maximum contraction was achieved in the presence of 10(-6) M Ca2+). (2) Several divalent cations induced concentration-dependent contractile responses in skinned uterine muscle. The rank order of potency was: Ca2+ greater than Mn2+ greater than Sr2+ greater than Ba2+. All these divalent cation-activated contractions were antagonized by trifluoperazine in a concentration-dependent manner. (3) Pretreatment of skinned fibers with cAMP (5 X 10(-5)-5 X 10(-4) M) depressed cation-activated contractions. This effect was dependent on the free cation concentration. (4) In the presence of a low EGTA concentration (0.1 mM) the pCa-tension curve was shifted to the right with a 2.5-fold increase in the Ca-concentration required to induce half-maximum contraction. (5) After Ca-loading (10(-6) M Ca2+ for 3 min in low EGTA-containing solution), total replacement of K+ ions by choline induced a small and tonic contraction. In these conditions, the ionophore A23287 (5 X 10(-8) M-5 X 10(-5) M) and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP3; 2 X 10(-6) M-2 X 10(-5) M) also produced contractions of skinned uterine fibers even in the presence of NaN3 (5 mM) and of NaCN (5 mM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Motility-dependence of the heterogenous staining of culture cells by a monoclonal anti-tropomyosin antibody

A monoclonal antibody (CG1) which recognizes tropomyosin isoforms 1 and 3 of chicken embryo fibroblasts was used to detect what is a motility-dependent change in the availability of the antigenic determinant in tropomyosin molecules along microfilaments. Immunofluorescence microscopy with this antibody revealed a heterogenous staining pattern among chicken embryo fibroblasts cells such that a population (17%) of cells showed only background staining. Stress fibers in about half the population of the cells stained weakly with this antibody, while the stress fibers in another population of cells (35%) showed very strong staining. After glycerination or cytochalasin B treatment, all of the cells became positive in reaction to CG1 antibody, suggesting that the antigenic determinant was present in every cell. On the other hand, all of the cells after brief nonionic detergent treatment became negative to CG1 antibody. The CG1 staining pattern was not significantly changed in cells at different stages after release from colcemid blockage, nor was a brief treatment of cells with buffer containing 2 M urea, mild trypsin, chymotrypsin, or V.8 protease effective in changing the reactivity. However, most of the cells with a morphology typical of movement, and all of the contracted, glycerinated cells were strongly positive to CG1 antibody. These results suggest that the unmasking of the CG1 determinant may be motility-dependent. Immunoblot analysis showed that forced modification on the cysteine residue of tropomyosin molecules, caused either by performic acid oxidation or by disulfide cross-linking with the chemical 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitrobenzoate), results in drastic changes in the reactivity of the different isoforms to CG1 antibody. These results indicate that the cysteine residue is involved in the CG1 determinant. The motility-dependent unmasking of this determinant may suggest an important role for nonmuscle tropomyosin in regulating cell motility.

Calcium regulation of pigment transport in vitro

Calcium has been implicated in the regulation of many cellular motility events. In this study we have examined the role of different Ca2+ concentrations on the in vitro transport of pigment within cultured chromatophores. Cells treated with Brij detergent for 1-2 min were stripped of their plasma membranes, leaving their cytoskeleton and associated pigment granules exposed to the external milieu. We found that retrograde pigment transport (aggregation) is induced upon addition of 1 mM MgATP2- with 10(-7) M free Ca2+, while an orthograde transport (redispersal) of pigment results from lowering the concentration of free Ca2+ to 10(-8) M while maintaining 1 mM MgATP2-. These Ca2+-regulated movements are ATP dependent but are apparently independent of cAMP and insensitive to calmodulin inhibitors. The observations reported here provide novel evidence that the concentration of free Ca2+ acts to regulate the direction of intracellular organelle transport.

Stable maintenance heat rate and contractile properties of different single muscle fibres from Xenopus laevis at 20 degrees C

1. Different types of fibres were isolated from the iliofibularis muscle of Xenopus laevis. Resting length was adjusted to obtain a sarcomere length of 2.3 microns as judged by laser diffraction. Heat production was measured during tetanic contractions lasting 0.3-2 s at 20 degrees C. From twenty fibres the force-velocity relationship was determined as well. 2. After correcting the records for heat loss, and taking the relevant heat capacities into account, stable maintenance heat rate was determined by fitting the corrected heat records from 0.35 s after the onset of contraction onwards by a straight line. The value obtained was then normalized on the dry weight of the fibre. The force-velocity relationships were fitted according to Hill's equation, yielding values for a and Vmax (Hill, 1938). 3. Stable maintenance heat rate (hb) depended on fibre type and ranged from 0.05 to 0.86 W g-1 dry wt. Isometric tetanic force per cross-sectional area (P0) varied between 190 and 427 kN m-2. Therefore the variations in hb were not proportional to the variations in P0. 4. The maximum velocity of shortening (Vmax) differed considerably from fibre to fibre (4.6-10.3 lengths s-1). Between Vmax and hb a non-linear relationship was found. The curvature of this relationship was such that its slope (delta hb/delta Vmax) increased with Vmax. 5. A proportional relationship was found between the rate of force redevelopment, following a period of rapid shortening, and hb. 6. Maximum power output during loaded shortening as derived from the force-velocity (P-V) relationships was on average 2.2 times higher than hb. 7. The curvature of the force-velocity relationship, as reflected by the value of a/P0, varied between fibres from 0.18 to 0.53. A larger value of a/P0 i.e. a less curved relationship, corresponded with a larger value of hb. 8. Since hb reflects the rate at which ATP is hydrolysed during contraction, the results suggest that the maximum velocity of shortening and the in vivo actomyosin ATPase under isometric conditions are non-linearly related. This would imply that these two variables are not dominated by the same rate-limiting step of the cross-bridge cycle.

The theory of sliding filament models for muscle contraction. I. The two-state model

The mechanical and thermal properties of Huxley's 1957 sliding filament model for striated muscle contraction are reconsidered, with emphasis on general relationships between two-state models and muscle behaviour. New empirical forms for the rate functions f(x) and g(x) are proposed, which give an improved fit to experiments. A specific procedure, based on the shortening heat, for determining model parameters is described and applied to various choices of rate functions. The change in slope of the tension-velocity curve observed by Katz is shown to require at least one discontinuity in the binding rate f(x), and a general formula is given. The two-state model also gives a symmetric cusp in the ATP-rate vs velocity curve at v = 0. The theory is extended to time-varying situations and applied to transient responses following isometric activation by tetanus (including latency relaxation), and unloaded and after-loaded contractions. The early burst of heat production can also be fitted by assigning appropriate values to the heats of binding and dissociation.

Fast-twitch and slow-twitch/cardiac Ca2+ ATPase genes map to human chromosomes 16 and 12

The fast-twitch and slow-twitch/cardiac Ca2+ ATPase genes have been assigned to human chromosomes 16 and 12, respectively, using rodent-human somatic cell hybrids and filter hybridization analysis of cell hybrid DNA. A rabbit cDNA for the fast-twitch ATPase hybridizes to a prominent single fragment in human genomic DNA digested with the restriction enzyme BamHI. By correlating the presence of this fragment in somatic cell hybrid DNA with the human chromosome content of the hybrids, the fast-twitch ATPase gene can be assigned to human chromosome 16. A slow-twitch/cardiac ATPase cDNA clone was isolated from a human muscle cDNA library and used to detect human fragments in EcoRI-digested somatic cell hybrid DNA. By correlating the presence of these fragments with the human chromosome content of the hybrids, the slow-twitch/cardiac ATPase gene can be assigned to human chromosome 12. Thus, the two ATPase genes, which are probably related to each other by an ancient duplication event, are not syntenic in the human genome.

Chemical modification of sarcoplasmic reticulum with methylbenzimidate. Stimulation of Ca2+ efflux

Treatment of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes with 12 mM-methylbenzimidate (MBI) for 5 min, in the presence of 5 mM-ATP at pH 8.5, resulted in a 2-3-fold stimulation of ATP hydrolysis and over 90% inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation. This phenomenon was strictly dependent upon the presence of nucleotides with the following order of effectiveness: adenosine 5'-[beta, gamma-imido]triphosphate greater than or equal to ATP greater than UTP greater than ADP greater than AMP. Divalent cations such as Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+, when present during the MBI treatment, prevented both the stimulation of ATPase activity and the inhibition of Ca2+ accumulation. Modification with MBI had no effect on E-P formation from ATP, ADP-ATP exchange, Ca2+ binding or ATP-Pi exchange catalysed by the membranes. Membranes modified with MBI in the presence of ATP and then passively loaded with Ca2+ released about 80% of their Ca2+ content within 3 s. Control membranes released only 3% of their Ca2+ during the same time period. MBI modification inhibited Ca2+ accumulation by proteoliposomes reconstituted with the partially purified ATPase but not with the purified ATPase fraction. These results suggest that MBI in the presence of ATP stimulates Ca2+ release by modifying a protein factor(s) other than the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase.

The kinetics of heat production in response to active shortening in frog skeletal muscle

1. Tension and heat production were measured at 0 degree C in sartorius muscles from Rana temporaria in response to two extents of shortening at five velocities. Shortening was from approximately 2.4 to 2.2 microns, 2.4 to 2.3 microns and 2.3 to 2.2 micron at velocities per half-sarcomere from 0.2 to 1.56 micron s-1. 2. Tension became approximately constant at all velocities. Records of heat rate obtained by differentiating traces from which thermoelastic heat had been subtracted became negative early in shortening and then rose. Heat rate became constant during shortening only at the lowest velocity and was still rising at the end of shortening at higher velocities. The highest heat rate occurred at the end of shortening at the two highest velocities. At the end of shortening at all velocities heat rate gradually approached the isometric level measured at the short length, the half-time for decline being largest following the slowest larger shortening. 3. Heat produced as a consequence of shortening but not associated with tension recovery was determined by subtracting shortening heat measured in response to two extents of shortening to the same muscle length. The differences in shortening heat continued to increase after shortening ended, and more of the extra heat produced in response to shortening appeared after the end of rapid shortening than during shortening itself. 4. Shortening heat coefficients calculated in different ways were similar to coefficients determined in previous studies. Coefficients calculated from measurements that excluded heat produced by tension recovery and allowed for continued production of heat by processes initiated by shortening were found to increase linearly with the force maintained during shortening. 5. The results show that the kinetics of heat production during and after shortening are very sensitive to the speed of shortening and that steady rates of energy liberation are not attained during shortening of less than or equal to 10% of muscle length at velocities greater than or equal to 12% of maximum velocity.

Excitation-contraction uncoupling in the developing skeletal muscle of the muscular dysgenesis mouse embryo

The muscular dysgenesis recessive autosomal mutation is characterized by a total lack of muscular contraction and a myofibrillar non-organization. Many abnormalities involved in the excitation-contraction coupling are found in mdg/mdg myotubes: 1) the internal structural organization of the membrane coupling between the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and the transverse (T)-tubule forming the triadic association is defective: the triad number is decreased in the muscle and there are a lack of periodic densities between the SR and T-tubule apposed membranes. 2) the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel contents, identified by binding with the specific blocker PN 200-110, are decreased. The two fast (30 ms) and slow (100 ms) Ca2+ currents present in normal myotubes are absent in mdg/mdg myotubes in vitro. 3) the Ca2+-dependent K+ conductance triggering an action potential followed by a long lasting after hyperpolarization (ahp) is absent in mdg/mdg myotubes. This indicates a lack of the free intracellular Ca2+ increased by the action potential. These results suggest that: 1) the lack of differentiated triadic junctions is directly correlated with very low amounts of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels; 2) the low amount of Ca2+ channels results directly in decreased Ca2+ currents; 3) the decreased Ca2+ currents are the consequence of the low intracellular Ca2+ concentration which is not sufficient to trigger a contraction. However, the addition of normal motoneurones to mdg/mdg myotubes in culture induces, few days later, an increase in Ca2+ currents.

ATPase activity of intact single muscle fibres of Xenopus laevis is related to the rate of force redevelopment after rapid shortening

Five different fibre types have been recognized in the iliofibularis muscle of Xenopus laevis. The force-velocity and histochemical characteristics of these fibres vary considerably and differences are also found in their myosin composition. In this study a comparison was made between the rate of ATP hydrolysis estimated from the stable maintenance heat rate and the mechanical performance of fibres of type 1, 2 and 3. In the experiments, firstly the force-velocity relation of a fibre was determined, and subsequently, heat production during isometric tetanic contractions at 20 degrees C was measured. Force redevelopment following the fastest shortening used for the measurement of the force-velocity relationship was fitted to a single exponential. The rate of ATP hydrolysis, estimated from the heat production, was found to be roughly proportional to the rate of force redevelopment. Crossbridge attachment rate was determined by using a simulation of a four state model of the crossbridge cycle. It appears that crossbridge attachment rate is proportional to the in vivo actomyosin ATPase activity during an isometric tetanic contraction.