Dynamics of Z-band based proteins in developing skeletal muscle cells

Induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes-more show than substance?

Cardiomyocytes that are derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CM) are an exciting tool to investigate cardiomyopathy disease mechanisms at the cellular level as well as to screen for potential side effects of novel drugs. However, currently their benefit is limited due to their fairly immature differentiation status under conventional culture conditions. This review is mainly aimed at researchers outside of the iPSC-CM field and will describe potential pitfalls and which features at the level of the myofibrils would be desired to make them a more representative model system. We will also discuss different strategies that may help to achieve these.

Cardiomyocyte external mechanical unloading activates modifications of α-actinin differently from sarcomere-originated unloading

Loss of myocardial mass in a neonatal rat cardiomyocyte culture is studied to determine whether there is a distinguishable cellular response based on the origin of mechano-signals. The approach herein compares the sarcomeric assembly and disassembly processes in heart cells by imposing mechano-signals at the interface with the extracellular matrix (extrinsic) and at the level of the myofilaments (intrinsic). Experiments compared the effects of imposed internal (inside/out) and external (outside/in) loading and unloading on modifications in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Unloading of the cellular substrate by myosin inhibition (1 μm mavacamten), or cessation of cyclic strain (1 Hz, 10% strain) after preconditioning, led to significant disassembly of sarcomeric α-actinin by 6 h. In myosin inhibition, this was accompanied by redistribution of intracellular poly-ubiquitin K48 to the cellular periphery relative to the poly-ubiquitin K48 reservoir at the I-band. Moreover, loading and unloading of the cellular substrate led to a three-fold increase in post-translational modifications (PTMs) when compared to the myosin-specific activation or inhibition. Specifically, phosphorylation increased with loading while ubiquitination increased with unloading, which may involve extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 and focal adhesion kinase activation. The identified PTMs, including ubiquitination, acetylation, and phosphorylation, are proposed to modify internal domains in α-actinin to increase its propensity to bind F-actin. These results demonstrate a link between mechanical feedback and sarcomere protein homeostasis via PTMs of α-actinin that exemplify how cardiomyocytes exhibit differential responses to the origin of force. The implications of sarcomere regulation governed by PTMs of α-actinin are discussed with respect to cardiac atrophy and heart failure.

STED analysis reveals the organization of nonmuscle muscle II, muscle myosin II, and F-actin in nascent myofibrils

A three-step model has been proposed to describe myofibril assembly in vertebrate cardiac and skeletal muscle cells beginning with premyofibrils, followed by nascent myofibrils, and ending as mature myofibrils (reviewed in Sanger, Wang, et al. (2017). Assembly and maintenance of myofibrils in striated muscle. Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology 235, 39-75; Wang, Fan, (2020). Myofibril assembly and the roles of the ubiquitin proteasome system. Cytoskeleton 77, 456-479). Premyofibrils are composed of minisarcomeres that contain nonmuscle myosin II filaments interdigitating with actin filaments embedded at their barbed ends in muscle-specific alpha-actinin-rich Z-bodies. Sarcomeres in mature myofibrils have filaments of muscle myosin II that interact with actin filaments that are attached to muscle alpha-actinin in Z-bands. Nascent myofibrils, the transitional step between premyofibrils and mature myofibrils, possess two types of myosins II, that is, nonmuscle myosin II and muscle myosin II. The relationship of these two different myosins II in nascent myofibrils, however, is not clear. Stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopic analyses of nascent myofibrils in both embryonic chick cardiomyocytes, and hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes revealed that nonmuscle myosin II is in the middle of the nascent myofibril, surrounded by overlapping muscle myosin II filaments at the periphery, and non-striated filamentous actin is present in the nascent myofibril. These findings support the original three-step model of myofibril assembly proposed by Rhee, Sanger, and Sanger, (1994). The premyofibrils: Evidence for its role in myofibrillogenesis. Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 28, 1-24.

The unexpected versatility of ALP/Enigma family proteins

One of the most intriguing features of multicellular animals is their ability to move. On a cellular level, this is accomplished by the rearrangement and reorganization of the cytoskeleton, a dynamic network of filamentous proteins which provides stability and structure in a stationary context, but also facilitates directed movement by contracting. The ALP/Enigma family proteins are a diverse group of docking proteins found in numerous cellular milieus and facilitate these processes among others. In vertebrates, they are characterized by having a PDZ domain in combination with one or three LIM domains. The family is comprised of CLP-36 (PDLIM1), Mystique (PDLIM2), ALP (PDLIM3), RIL (PDLIM4), ENH (PDLIM5), ZASP (PDLIM6), and Enigma (PDLIM7). In this review, we will outline the evolution and function of their protein domains which confers their versatility. Additionally, we highlight their role in different cellular environments, focusing specifically on recent advances in muscle research using Drosophila as a model organism. Finally, we show the relevance of this protein family to human myopathies and the development of muscle-related diseases.

Comparison of incorporation of wild type and mutated actins into sarcomeres in skeletal muscle cells: A fluorescence recovery after photobleaching study

The α-actin mutation G15R in the nucleotide-binding pocket of skeletal muscle, causes severe actin myopathy in human skeletal muscles. Expressed in cultured embryonic quail skeletal myotubes, YFP-G15R-α-actin incorporates in sarcomeres in a pattern indistinguishable from wildtype YFP-α-actin. However, patches of YFP-G15R-α-actin form, resembling those in patients. Analyses with FRAP of incorporation of YFP-G15R-α-actin showed major differences between fast-exchanging plus ends of overlapping actin filaments in Z-bands, versus slow exchanging ends of overlapping thin filaments in the middle of sarcomeres. Wildtype skeletal muscle YFP-α-actin shows a faster rate of incorporation at plus ends of F-actin than at their minus ends. Incorporation of YFP-G15R-α-actin molecules is reduced at plus ends, increased at minus ends. The same relationship of wildtype YFP-α-actin incorporation is seen in myofibrils treated with cytochalasin-D: decreased dynamics at plus ends, increased dynamics at minus ends, and F-actin aggregates. Speculation: imbalance of normal polarized assembly of F-actin creates excess monomers that form F-actin aggregates. Two other severe skeletal muscle YFP-α-actin mutations (H40Y and V163L) not in the nucleotide pocket do not affect actin dynamics, and lack F-actin aggregates. These results indicate that normal α-actin plus and minus end dynamics are needed to maintain actin filament stability, and avoid F-actin patches.

Assessment of Antimicrobial Potential of Plagiochasma rupestre Coupled with Healing Clay Bentonite and AGNPS

The impact of individual component, i.e., plant extract (Plagiochasma rupestre), biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), and healing clay (bentonite) as antimicrobial agent is reported but their combined effect as a ternary system is a new approach. This study is aimed at investigating the impact of the proposed ternary system against selected human pathogens. AgNPs were synthesized by using Plagiochasma rupestre extract (aqueous) as reducing agent and neutral polymer (PVP) as stabilizer. The morphology, size, and structural properties of synthesized AgNPs were determined with XRD and SEM analysis which showed spherical monomodal particles with an average particle size of 25.5 nm. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of the individual and nanoternary system were investigated. The phytochemical screening of plant extract showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol, and glycosides in methanol extract as compare to aqueous and acetone extract. The antimicrobial activities of crude extracts of Plagiochasma rupestre with AgNPs and bentonite clay were studied as an appropriate candidate for treatment of microbial infections, especially bacterial and fungal diseases. The antioxidant activity of Plagiochasma rupestre aqueous extract and nanoparticles was assessed by (DPPH) free radical, and absorbance was checked at 517 nm. Crude extract has inhibitory effect towards bacteria and fungi, and bentonite clay also showed some degree of antimicrobial resistance. Strategy can be efficiently applied for future engineering and medical. The nanoternary systems showed 3 and 3.5 times higher antibacterial and antifungal activity, respectively, in comparison to Plagiochasma rupestre and bentonite clay, individually.

Endogenous slow and fast myosin dynamics in myofibers isolated from mice expressing GFP-Myh7 and Kusabira Orange-Myh1

Skeletal muscle consists of slow and fast myofibers in which different myosin isoforms are expressed. Approximately 300 myosins form a single thick filament in the myofibrils, where myosin is continuously exchanged. However, endogenous slow and fast myosin dynamics have not been fully understood. To elucidate those dynamics, here we generated mice expressing green fluorescence protein-tagged slow myosin heavy chain (GFP-Myh7) and Kusabira Orange fluorescence protein-tagged fast myosin heavy chain (KuO-Myh1). First, these mice enabled us to distinguish between GFP- and KuO-myofibers under fluorescence microscopy: GFP-Myh7 and KuO-Myh1 were exclusively expressed in slow myofibers and fast myofibers, respectively. Next, to monitor endogenous myosin dynamics, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) was conducted. The mobile fraction (Mf) of GFP-Myh7 and that of KuO-Myh1 were almost constant values independent of the regions of the myofibers and the muscle portions where the myofibers were isolated. Intriguingly, proteasome inhibitor treatment significantly decreased the Mf in GFP-Myh7 but not in KuO-Myh1 myofibers, indicating that the response to a disturbance in protein turnover depended on muscle fiber type. Taken together, the present results indicated that the mice we generated are promising tools not only for distinguishing between GFP- and KuO-myofibers but also for studying the dynamics of endogenous myosin isoforms by live-cell fluorescence imaging.

Inhibitors of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System block myofibril assembly in cardiomyocytes derived from chick embryos and human pluripotent stem cells

Details of sarcomeric protein assembly during de novo myofibril formation closely resemble myofibrillogenesis in skeletal and cardiac myocytes in birds, rodents and zebrafish. The arrangement of proteins during myofibrillogenesis follows a three-step process: beginning with premyofibrils, followed by nascent myofibrils, and concluding with mature myofibrils (reviewed in Sanger et al., 2017). Our aim is to determine if the same pathway is followed in human cardiomyocytes derived from human inducible pluripotent stem cells. We found that the human cardiomyocytes developed patterns of protein organization identical to the three-step series seen in the model organisms cited above. Further experiments showed that myofibril assembly can be blocked at the nascent myofibril by five different inhibitors of the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS) stage in both avian and human cardiomyocytes. With the exception of Carfilzomib, removal of the UPS inhibitors allows nascent myofibrils to proceed to mature myofibrils. Some proteasomal inhibitors, such as Bortezomib and Carfilzomib, used to treat multiple myeloma patients, have off-target effects of damage to hearts in three to six percent of these patients. These cardiovascular adverse events may result from prevention of mature myofibril formation in the cardiomyocytes. In summary, our results support a common three-step model for the formation of myofibrils ranging from avian to human cardiomyocytes. The Ubiquitin Proteasome System is required for progression from nascent myofibrils to mature myofibrils. Our experiments suggest a possible explanation for the cardiac and skeletal muscle off-target effects reported in multiple myeloma patients treated with proteasome inhibitors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effect of MG-132 on myofibrillogenesis and the ubiquitination of GAPDH in quail myotubes

In the three-step myofibrillogenesis model, mature myofibrils are formed through two intermediate structures: premyofibrils and nascent myofibrils. We have recently reported that several inhibitors of the Ubiquitin Proteosome System, for example, MG-132, and DBeQ, reversibly block progression of nascent myofibrils to mature myofibrils. In this investigation, we studied the effects of MG132 and DBeQ on the expression of various myofibrillar proteins including actin, myosin light and heavy chains, tropomyosin, myomesin, and myosin binding protein-C in cultured embryonic quail myotubes by western blotting using two loading controls-α-tubulin and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Surprisingly, we found that MG-132 affected the level of expression of GAPDH but DBeQ did not. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) showed no significant effect of MG-132 on GAPDH transcription. Two-dimensional (2D) western blot analyses with extracts of control and MG-132-treated cells using anti-ubiquitin antibody indicated that MG132-treated myotubes show a stronger emitter-coupled logic signal. However, Spot% and Spot volume calculations for all spots from both western blot film signals and matched Coomassie-stained 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the intensity of staining in a spot of ~39 kDa protein is 3.5-fold lower in the gel of MG-132-treated extracts. Mass spectrometry analyses identified the ~39 kDa protein as quail GAPDH. Immunohistochemical analysis of fixed MG-132-treated myotubes with anti-GAPDH antibody showed extensive clump formation, which may be analogous to granule formation by stress response factors in MG132-treated cells. This is the first report on in vivo ubiquitination of GAPDH. This may be essential for the moonlighting (Jeffery, 1999) activity of GAPDH for tailoring stress in myotubes.

Striated muscle proteins are regulated both by mechanical deformation and by chemical post-translational modification

All cells sense force and build their cytoskeleton to optimize function. How is this achieved? Two major systems are involved. The first is that load deforms specific protein structures in a proportional and orientation-dependent manner. The second is post-translational modification of proteins as a consequence of signaling pathway activation. These two processes work together in a complex way so that local subcellular assembly as well as overall cell function are controlled. This review discusses many cell types but focuses on striated muscle. Detailed information is provided on how load deforms the structure of proteins in the focal adhesions and filaments, using α-actinin, vinculin, talin, focal adhesion kinase, LIM domain-containing proteins, filamin, myosin, titin, and telethonin as examples. Second messenger signals arising from external triggers are distributed throughout the cell causing post-translational or chemical modifications of protein structures, with the actin capping protein CapZ and troponin as examples. There are numerous unanswered questions of how mechanical and chemical signals are integrated by muscle proteins to regulate sarcomere structure and function yet to be studied. Therefore, more research is needed to see how external triggers are integrated with local tension generated within the cell. Nonetheless, maintenance of tension in the sarcomere is the essential and dominant mechanism, leading to the well-known phrase in exercise physiology: "use it or lose it."

Integrated proteomic and transcriptomic profiling identifies aberrant gene and protein expression in the sarcomere, mitochondrial complex I, and the extracellular matrix in Warmblood horses with myofibrillar myopathy

Background

Myofibrillar myopathy in humans causes protein aggregation, degeneration, and weakness of skeletal muscle. In horses, myofibrillar myopathy is a late-onset disease of unknown origin characterized by poor performance, atrophy, myofibrillar disarray, and desmin aggregation in skeletal muscle. This study evaluated molecular and ultrastructural signatures of myofibrillar myopathy in Warmblood horses through gluteal muscle tandem-mass-tag quantitative proteomics (5 affected, 4 control), mRNA-sequencing (8 affected, 8 control), amalgamated gene ontology analyses, and immunofluorescent and electron microscopy.

Results

We identified 93/1533 proteins and 47/27,690 genes that were significantly differentially expressed. The top significantly differentially expressed protein CSRP3 and three other differentially expressed proteins, including, PDLIM3, SYNPO2, and SYNPOL2, are integrally involved in Z-disc signaling, gene transcription and subsequently sarcomere integrity. Through immunofluorescent staining, both desmin aggregates and CSRP3 were localized to type 2A fibers. The highest differentially expressed gene CHAC1, whose protein product degrades glutathione, is associated with oxidative stress and apoptosis. Amalgamated transcriptomic and proteomic gene ontology analyses identified 3 enriched cellular locations; the sarcomere (Z-disc & I-band), mitochondrial complex I and the extracellular matrix which corresponded to ultrastructural Z-disc disruption and mitochondrial cristae alterations found with electron microscopy.

Conclusions

A combined proteomic and transcriptomic analysis highlighted three enriched cellular locations that correspond with MFM ultrastructural pathology in Warmblood horses. Aberrant Z-disc mechano-signaling, impaired Z-disc stability, decreased mitochondrial complex I expression, and a pro-oxidative cellular environment are hypothesized to contribute to the development of myofibrillar myopathy in Warmblood horses. These molecular signatures may provide further insight into diagnostic biomarkers, treatments, and the underlying pathophysiology of MFM.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07758-0.

Order from disorder in the sarcomere: FATZ forms a fuzzy but tight complex and phase-separated condensates with α-actinin

In sarcomeres, α-actinin cross-links actin filaments and anchors them to the Z-disk. FATZ (filamin-, α-actinin-, and telethonin-binding protein of the Z-disk) proteins interact with α-actinin and other core Z-disk proteins, contributing to myofibril assembly and maintenance. Here, we report the first structure and its cellular validation of α-actinin-2 in complex with a Z-disk partner, FATZ-1, which is best described as a conformational ensemble. We show that FATZ-1 forms a tight fuzzy complex with α-actinin-2 and propose an interaction mechanism via main molecular recognition elements and secondary binding sites. The obtained integrative model reveals a polar architecture of the complex which, in combination with FATZ-1 multivalent scaffold function, might organize interaction partners and stabilize α-actinin-2 preferential orientation in Z-disk. Last, we uncover FATZ-1 ability to phase-separate and form biomolecular condensates with α-actinin-2, raising the question whether FATZ proteins can create an interaction hub for Z-disk proteins through membraneless compartmentalization during myofibrillogenesis.

Molecular basis of F-actin regulation and sarcomere assembly via myotilin

Sarcomeres, the basic contractile units of striated muscle cells, contain arrays of thin (actin) and thick (myosin) filaments that slide past each other during contraction. The Ig-like domain-containing protein myotilin provides structural integrity to Z-discs-the boundaries between adjacent sarcomeres. Myotilin binds to Z-disc components, including F-actin and α-actinin-2, but the molecular mechanism of binding and implications of these interactions on Z-disc integrity are still elusive. To illuminate them, we used a combination of small-angle X-ray scattering, cross-linking mass spectrometry, and biochemical and molecular biophysics approaches. We discovered that myotilin displays conformational ensembles in solution. We generated a structural model of the F-actin:myotilin complex that revealed how myotilin interacts with and stabilizes F-actin via its Ig-like domains and flanking regions. Mutant myotilin designed with impaired F-actin binding showed increased dynamics in cells. Structural analyses and competition assays uncovered that myotilin displaces tropomyosin from F-actin. Our findings suggest a novel role of myotilin as a co-organizer of Z-disc assembly and advance our mechanistic understanding of myotilin's structural role in Z-discs.

Myofibril assembly and the roles of the ubiquitin proteasome system

De novo assembly of myofibrils in vertebrate cross-striated muscles progresses in three distinct steps, first from a minisarcomeric alignment of several nonmuscle and muscle proteins in premyofibrils, followed by insertions of additional proteins and increased organization in nascent myofibrils, ending with mature contractile myofibrils. In a search for controls of the process of myofibril assembly, we discovered that the transition from nascent to mature myofibrils could be halted by inhibitors of three distinct functions of the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). First, inhibition of pathway to E3 Cullin ligases that ubiquitinate proteins led to an arrest of myofibrillogenesis at the nascent myofibril stage. Second, inhibition of p97 protein extractions of ubiquitinated proteins led to a similar arrest of myofibrillogenesis at the nascent myofibril stage. Third, inhibitors of proteolytic action by proteasomes also blocked nascent myofibrils from transitioning to mature myofibrils. In contrast, inhibitors of autophagy or lysosomes did not affect myofibrillogenesis. To probe for differences in the effects of UPS inhibitors during myofibrillogenesis, we analyzed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching the exchange rates of two selected sarcomeric proteins (muscle myosin II heavy chains and light chains). In the presence of p97 and proteasomal inhibitors, the dynamics of each of these two myosin proteins decreased in the nascent myofibril stage, but were unaffected in the mature myofibril stage. The increased stability of myofibrils occurring in the transition from nascent to mature myofibril assembly indicates the importance of dynamics and selective destruction in the muscle myosin II proteins for the remodeling of nascent to mature myofibrils.

Molecular recognition mechanisms directing the self-assembly of biological structures

Self-assembling may be defined as the spontaneous association of material units into structures that are often capable of cyclic reorganization and functional behavior. Various molecular recognition processes stabilize assemblies of polymers and biological structures. The present article analyzes cases in which chemical, shape and other recognition mechanisms are individually or cooperatively operative. Simpler self-assembling theories reported in the literature are highlighted. Detailed processes for which chemical recognition is the prevailing, enthalpy-driven, process include the non-ideal component of miscibility, supramolecular polymerization, host-guest complexes and template polymerization. Also discussed are systems such as liquid crystalline closed polymers, ternary mesogenic systems and rigid crystalline polymers for which shape recognition is the prevailing entropy-driven process. Other recognition mechanisms include ion condensation effects, hydrophobic bonding and growth-coupled-to-orientation. Combinations of various recognition mechanisms are particularly evident in biological structures. Self-assembling mechanisms involved in the genesis of some biological systems can be scientifically identified, but much more needs to be known to describe the "engineered" assembling modes that support complex functional organs.

Under construction: The dynamic assembly, maintenance, and degradation of the cardiac sarcomere

The sarcomere is the basic contractile unit of striated muscle and is a highly ordered protein complex with the actin and myosin filaments at its core. Assembling the sarcomere constituents into this organized structure in development, and with muscle growth as new sarcomeres are built, is a complex process coordinated by numerous factors. Once assembled, the sarcomere requires constant maintenance as its continuous contraction is accompanied by elevated mechanical, thermal, and oxidative stress, which predispose proteins to misfolding and toxic aggregation. To prevent protein misfolding and maintain sarcomere integrity, the sarcomere is monitored by an assortment of protein quality control (PQC) mechanisms. The need for effective PQC is heightened in cardiomyocytes which are terminally differentiated and must survive for many years while preserving optimal mechanical output. To prevent toxic protein aggregation, molecular chaperones stabilize denatured sarcomere proteins and promote their refolding. However, when old and misfolded proteins cannot be salvaged by chaperones, they must be recycled via degradation pathways: the calpain and ubiquitin-proteasome systems, which operate under basal conditions, and the stress-responsive autophagy-lysosome pathway. Mutations to and deficiency of the molecular chaperones and associated factors charged with sarcomere maintenance commonly lead to sarcomere structural disarray and the progression of heart disease, highlighting the necessity of effective sarcomere PQC for maintaining cardiac function. This review focuses on the dynamic regulation of assembly and turnover at the sarcomere with an emphasis on the chaperones involved in these processes and describes the alterations to chaperones - through mutations and deficient expression - implicated in disease progression to heart failure.

Inhibition of DNAJ-HSP70 interaction improves strength in muscular dystrophy

Dominant mutations in the HSP70 cochaperone DNAJB6 cause a late-onset muscle disease termed limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type D1 (LGMDD1), which is characterized by protein aggregation and vacuolar myopathology. Disease mutations reside within the G/F domain of DNAJB6, but the molecular mechanisms underlying dysfunction are not well understood. Using yeast, cell culture, and mouse models of LGMDD1, we found that the toxicity associated with disease-associated DNAJB6 required its interaction with HSP70 and that abrogating this interaction genetically or with small molecules was protective. In skeletal muscle, DNAJB6 localizes to the Z-disc with HSP70. Whereas HSP70 normally diffused rapidly between the Z-disc and sarcoplasm, the rate of diffusion of HSP70 in LGMDD1 mouse muscle was diminished, probably because it had an unusual affinity for the Z-disc and mutant DNAJB6. Treating LGMDD1 mice with a small-molecule inhibitor of the DNAJ-HSP70 complex remobilized HSP70, improved strength, and corrected myopathology. These data support a model in which LGMDD1 mutations in DNAJB6 are a gain-of-function disease that is, counterintuitively, mediated via HSP70 binding. Thus, therapeutic approaches targeting HSP70-DNAJB6 may be effective in treating this inherited muscular dystrophy.

An adapted particle swarm optimization algorithm as a model for exploring premyofibril formation

While the fundamental steps outlining myofibril formation share a similar scheme for different cell and species types, various granular details involved in the development of a functional contractile muscle are not well understood. Many studies of myofibrillogenesis focus on the protein interactions that are involved in myofibril maturation with the assumption that there is a fully formed premyofibril at the start of the process. However, there is little known regarding how the premyofibril is initially constructed. Fortunately, the protein α-actinin, which has been consistently identified throughout the maturation process, is found in premyofibrils as punctate aggregates known as z-bodies. We propose a theoretical model based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm that can explore how these α-actinin clusters form into the patterns observed experimentally. Our algorithm can produce different pattern configurations by manipulating specific parameters that can be related to α-actinin mobility and binding affinity. These patterns, which vary experimentally according to species and muscle cell type, speak to the versatility of α-actinin and demonstrate how its behavior may be altered through interactions with various regulatory, signaling, and metabolic proteins. The results of our simulations invite speculation that premyofibrils can be influenced toward developing different patterns by altering the behavior of individual α-actinin molecules, which may be linked to key differences present in different cell types.

Supramolecular and Liquid Crystalline Contributions to the Assembly of Myofibril

We compare steps observed during the fibrillogenesis of myofibrils with the sequence of steps predictable by a recent analysis of the structurization and functioning of striated muscles. The predicted assembly steps are based solely on fundamental equilibrium processes, particularly supramolecular interactions and liquid crystalline alignment of the rigid thick and thin filaments hosted within the sarcomer. Satisfactory agreement is obtained between several of the observed and the predicted fibrillogenesis steps. In several cases, however, the actual steps appear to be more complex than expected, evidencing the occurrence of transport and kinetic pathways that may assist the attainment of the equilibrium structure. The memory of the order of a precursor mesophase is imprinted during the remodeling of the surfaces at which the two sets of filaments are anchored. The relevance of the present analysis to the functioning of the myofibril is considered.

Assembly and Maintenance of Sarcomere Thin Filaments and Associated Diseases

Sarcomere assembly and maintenance are essential physiological processes required for cardiac and skeletal muscle function and organism mobility. Over decades of research, components of the sarcomere and factors involved in the formation and maintenance of this contractile unit have been identified. Although we have a general understanding of sarcomere assembly and maintenance, much less is known about the development of the thin filaments and associated factors within the sarcomere. In the last decade, advancements in medical intervention and genome sequencing have uncovered patients with novel mutations in sarcomere thin filaments. Pairing this sequencing with reverse genetics and the ability to generate patient avatars in model organisms has begun to deepen our understanding of sarcomere thin filament development. In this review, we provide a summary of recent findings regarding sarcomere assembly, maintenance, and disease with respect to thin filaments, building on the previous knowledge in the field. We highlight debated and unknown areas within these processes to clearly define open research questions.

Exploring cardiac form and function: A length-scale computational biology approach

The ability to adequately pump blood throughout the body is the result of tightly regulated feedback mechanisms that exist across many spatial scales in the heart. Diseases which impede the function at any one of the spatial scales can cause detrimental cardiac remodeling and eventual heart failure. An overarching goal of cardiac research is to use engineered heart tissue in vitro to study the physiology of diseased heart tissue, develop cell replacement therapies, and explore drug testing applications. A commonality within the field is to manipulate the flow of mechanical signals across the various spatial scales to direct self-organization and build functional tissue. Doing so requires an understanding of how chemical, electrical, and mechanical cues can be used to alter the cellular microenvironment. We discuss how mathematical models have been used in conjunction with experimental techniques to explore various structure-function relations that exist across numerous spatial scales. We highlight how a systems biology approach can be employed to recapitulate in vivo characteristics in vitro at the tissue, cell, and subcellular scales. Specific focus is placed on the interplay between experimental and theoretical approaches. Various modeling methods are showcased to demonstrate the breadth and power afforded to the systems biology approach. An overview of modeling methodologies exemplifies how the strengths of different scientific disciplines can be used to supplement and/or inspire new avenues of experimental exploration. This article is categorized under: Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Mechanistic Models Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Organ, Tissue, and Physiological Models.

Myomesin is part of an integrity pathway that responds to sarcomere damage and disease

The structure and function of the sarcomere of striated muscle is well studied but the steps of sarcomere assembly and maintenance remain under-characterized. With the aid of chaperones and factors of the protein quality control system, muscle proteins can be folded and assembled into the contractile apparatus of the sarcomere. When sarcomere assembly is incomplete or the sarcomere becomes damaged, suites of chaperones and maintenance factors respond to repair the sarcomere. Here we show evidence of the importance of the M-line proteins, specifically myomesin, in the monitoring of sarcomere assembly and integrity in previously characterized zebrafish muscle mutants. We show that myomesin is one of the last proteins to be incorporated into the assembling sarcomere, and that in skeletal muscle, its incorporation requires connections with both titin and myosin. In diseased zebrafish sarcomeres, myomesin1a shows an early increase of gene expression, hours before chaperones respond to damaged muscle. We found that myomesin expression is also more specific to sarcomere damage than muscle creatine kinase, and our results and others support the use of myomesin assays as an early, specific, method of detecting muscle damage.

Nonmuscle myosin II in cardiac and skeletal muscle cells

De novo assembly of contractile myofibrils begins with the formation of premyofibrils where filaments of non-muscle myosin (NM II), and actin organize in sarcomeric patterns with Z-Bodies containing muscle-specific alpha-actinin. Interactions of muscle specific myosin (MM II) with NM II occur in a nascent myofibril stage that precedes the assembly of mature myofibrils. By the final stage of myofibrillogenesis, the only myosin II present in the mature myofibrils is MM II. In this current study of myofibril assembly, the three vertebrate isoforms of NM II (A, B, and C) and sarcomeric alpha-actinin, ligated to GFP family proteins, were coexpressed in avian embryonic skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. Each isoform of NM II localized only in the mini-A-Bands of premyofibrils and nascent myofibrils. There was no evidence of localization of NM II in Z-Bodies of premyofibrils and nascent myofibrils or in Z-Bands of mature myofibrils. Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) experiments indicated similar exchange rates in premyofibrils for NM II isoforms A and B, whereas the IIC isoform was significantly less dynamic. Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) measurements of colocalized fluorescent pairs of different NM II isoforms yielded signals similar to identical pairs, indicating copolymerization of the different NM II pairs. The role of NM II may reside in establishing the future sarcomere pattern in mature myofibrils by binding to the oppositely polarized actin filaments that extend between pairs of Z-Bodies along premyofibrils prior to their transformation into mature myofibrils.

Extracellular Matrix in Regulation of Contractile System in Cardiomyocytes

The contractile apparatus of cardiomyocytes is considered to be a stable system. However, it undergoes strong rearrangements during heart development as cells progress from their non-muscle precursors. Long-term culturing of mature cardiomyocytes is also accompanied by the reorganization of their contractile apparatus with the conversion of typical myofibrils into structures of non-muscle type. Processes of heart development as well as cell adaptation to culture conditions in cardiomyocytes both involve extracellular matrix changes, which appear to be crucial for the maturation of contractile apparatus. The aim of this review is to analyze the role of extracellular matrix in the regulation of contractile system dynamics in cardiomyocytes. Here, the remodeling of actin contractile structures and the expression of actin isoforms in cardiomyocytes during differentiation and adaptation to the culture system are described along with the extracellular matrix alterations. The data supporting the regulation of actin dynamics by extracellular matrix are highlighted and the possible mechanisms of such regulation are discussed.

A Supramolecular Polymerization Approach to the Growth of the Myofibril

Extended linear structures self-assemble by the multi-stage-open-association mechanism of supramolecular polymerization (MSOA). Application of the model requires the identification of a repeating unit, the main-chain supramolecular bond, and the binding constant. The strength of the bond and the degree of polymerization become extremely large when multiple sites for non-covalent interactions occur. These expectations had been previously verified in the case of the neuronal axon, for which the above parameters were assessed from its known molecular structure. The more complex case of the myofibril is analyzed here. The specific interactions that connect neighboring sarcomers have been a matter of debate. Recent work has focused on the bond between titin and α-actinin localized at the terminal Z-zones of each sarcomer. Elaboration of literature data suggests that titin-α-actinin interactions do bridge neighboring sarcomers, promoting the polymerization of myofibrils that attain macroscopic dimensions consistently with the MSOA predictions. The rationale for the complex structuration of single sarcomers is discussed.

F-actin dynamics regulates mammalian organ growth and cell fate maintenance

BACKGROUND & AIMS

In vitro, cell function can be potently regulated by the mechanical properties of cells and of their microenvironment. Cells measure these features by developing forces via their actomyosin cytoskeleton, and respond accordingly by regulating intracellular pathways, including the transcriptional coactivators YAP/TAZ. Whether mechanical cues are relevant for in vivo regulation of adult organ homeostasis, and whether this occurs through YAP/TAZ, remains largely unaddressed.

METHODS

We developed Capzb conditional knockout mice and obtained primary fibroblasts to characterize the role of CAPZ in vitro. In vivo functional analyses were carried out by inducing Capzb inactivation in adult hepatocytes, manipulating YAP/Hippo activity by hydrodynamic tail vein injections, and treating mice with the ROCK inhibitor, fasudil.

RESULTS

We found that the F-actin capping protein CAPZ restrains actomyosin contractility: Capzb inactivation alters stress fiber and focal adhesion dynamics leading to enhanced myosin activity, increased traction forces, and increased liver stiffness. In vitro, this rescues YAP from inhibition by a small cellular geometry; in vivo, it induces YAP activation in parallel to the Hippo pathway, causing extensive hepatocyte proliferation and leading to striking organ overgrowth. Moreover, Capzb is required for the maintenance of the differentiated hepatocyte state, for metabolic zonation, and for gluconeogenesis. In keeping with changes in tissue mechanics, inhibition of the contractility regulator ROCK, or deletion of the Yap1 mechanotransducer, reverse the phenotypes emerging in Capzb-null livers.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate a previously unsuspected role for CAPZ in tuning the mechanical properties of cells and tissues, which is required in hepatocytes for the maintenance of the differentiated state and to regulate organ size. More generally, it indicates for the first time that mechanotransduction has a physiological role in maintaining liver homeostasis in mammals.

LAY SUMMARY

The mechanical properties of cells and tissues (i.e. whether they are soft or stiff) are thought to be important regulators of cell behavior. Herein, we found that inactivation of the protein CAPZ alters the mechanical properties of cells and liver tissues, leading to YAP hyperactivation. In turn, this profoundly alters liver physiology, causing organ overgrowth, defects in liver cell differentiation and metabolism. These results reveal a previously uncharacterized role for mechanical signals in the maintenance of adult liver homeostasis.

Myosin: Formation and maintenance of thick filaments

Skeletal muscle consists of bundles of myofibers containing millions of myofibrils, each of which is formed of longitudinally aligned sarcomere structures. Sarcomeres are the minimum contractile unit, which mainly consists of four components: Z‐bands, thin filaments, thick filaments, and connectin/titin. The size and shape of the sarcomere component is strictly controlled. Surprisingly, skeletal muscle cells not only synthesize a series of myofibrillar proteins but also regulate the assembly of those proteins into the sarcomere structures. However, authentic sarcomere structures cannot be reconstituted by combining purified myofibrillar proteins in vitro, therefore there must be an elaborate mechanism ensuring the correct formation of myofibril structure in skeletal muscle cells. This review discusses the role of myosin, a main component of the thick filament, in thick filament formation and the dynamics of myosin in skeletal muscle cells. Changes in the number of myofibrils in myofibers can cause muscle hypertrophy or atrophy. Therefore, it is important to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which myofibers control myofibril formation at the molecular level to develop approaches that effectively enhance muscle growth in animals.

Knockout of Wdr1 results in cardiac hypertrophy and impaired cardiac function in adult mouse heart

WDR1 is a major cofactor of the actin depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilin, accelerating ADF/cofilin-mediated actin disassembly. We had previously showed that WDR1-mediated actin dynamics is required for postnatal myocardial growth and adult myocardial maintenance in mice, in which the detailed phenotypes of adult cardiomyocyte-specific Wdr1 deletion mice had not been analyzed. In this study, we systematically analyzed the role of Wdr1 in adult mouse heart. Adult cardiomyocyte-specific Wdr1 deletion mice (cKO) exhibited cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. Echocardiographic study and electrocardiography revealed impaired contractile function, prolonged QT interval and Tpeak-Tend interval, and abnormal T-wave amplitude in cKO mice. Increased levels of sarcomeric proteins, adherens junction proteins and cofilin, and severe actin filament (F-actin) accumulations were observed in cKO mice heart. Taken together, this finding demonstrates that WDR1 is a critical factor for normal structure and function of adult mouse heart.

Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of TPM transcripts and proteins in developing striated chicken muscles indicate TPM4α is the major sarcomeric cardiac tropomyosin from early embryonic life to adulthood

The chicken has been used since the 1980s as an animal model for developmental studies regarding tropomyosin isoform diversity in striated muscles, however, the pattern of expression of transcripts as well as the corresponding TPM proteins of various tropomyosin isoforms in avian hearts are not well documented. In this study, using conventional and qRT-PCR, we report the expression of transcripts for various sarcomeric TPM isoforms in striated muscles through development. Transcripts of both TPM1α and TPM1κ, the two sarcomeric isoforms of the TPM1 gene, are expressed in embryonic chicken hearts but disappear in post hatch stages. TPM1α transcripts are expressed in embryonic and adult skeletal muscle. The sarcomeric isoform of the TPM2 gene is expressed mostly in embryonic skeletal muscles. As reported earlier, TPM3α is expressed in embryonic heart and skeletal muscle but significantly lower in adult striated muscle. TPM4α transcripts are expressed from embryonic to adult chicken hearts but not in skeletal muscle. Our 2D Western blot analyses using CH1 monoclonal antibody followed by mass spectra evaluations found TPM4α protein is the major sarcomeric tropomysin expressed in embryonic chicken hearts. However, in 7-day-old embryonic hearts, a minute quantity of TPM1α or TPM1κ is also expressed. This finding suggests that sarcomeric TPM1 protein may play some important role in cardiac contractility and/or cardiac morphogenesis during embryogenesis. Since only the transcripts of TPM4α are expressed in adult chicken hearts, it is logical to presume that TPM4α is the only sarcomeric TPM protein produced in adult cardiac tissues.

Identification of meat from yak and cattle using SNP markers with integrated allele-specific polymerase chain reaction-capillary electrophoresis method

Correct species identification is necessary for meat product quality assurance. Genetic markers are useful tools to accurately determine the animal source of meat products. To better protect yak meat and its products, ten single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci from bovine meat-related genes and one positive control primer set were selected to discriminate meat sourced from yak or cattle. A multiplex allele-specific polymerase chain reaction and capillary electrophoresis method was employed for SNP genotyping. The samples were identified as from yak or cattle based on the number of amplicons. Yak samples generally produced one to three amplicon peaks, and the cattle samples yielded five or more peaks in the electropherogram. This method could be useful to distinguish yak meat from cattle beef, and would protect consumers and yak meat producers.

Sarcomeric and nonmuscle α-actinin isoforms exhibit differential dynamics at skeletal muscle Z-lines

The α-actinin proteins are a highly conserved family of actin crosslinkers that mediate interactions between several cytoskeletal and sarcomeric proteins. Nonsarcomeric α-actinin-1 and α-actinin-4 crosslink actin filaments in the cytoskeleton, while sarcomeric α-actinin-2 and α-actinin-3 serve a crucial role in anchoring actin filaments to the muscle Z-line. To assess the difference in turnover dynamics and structure/function properties between the α-actinin isoforms at the sarcomeric Z-line, we used Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching (FRAP) in primary myofiber cultures. We found that the recovery kinetics of these proteins followed three distinct patterns: α-actinin-2/α-actinin-3 had the slowest turn over, α-actinin-1 recovered to an intermediate degree, and α-actinin-4 had the fastest recovery. Interestingly, the isoforms' patterns of recovery were reversed at adhesion plaques in fibroblasts. This disparity suggests that the different α-actinin isoforms have unique association kinetics in myofibers and that nonmuscle isoform interactions are more dynamic at the sarcomeric Z-line. Protein domain-specific investigations using α-actinin-2/4 chimeric proteins showed that differential dynamics between sarcomeric and nonmuscle isoforms are regulated by cooperative interactions between the N-terminal actin-binding domain, the spectrin-like linker region and the C-terminal calmodulin-like EF hand domain. Together, these findings demonstrate that α-actinin isoforms are unique in binding dynamics at the Z-line and suggest differentially evolved interactive and Z-line association capabilities of each functional domain.

Sarcomeric TPM3α in developing chicken

Cloning and sequencing of various tropomyosin isoforms expressed in chickens have been described since the early 1980s. However, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characterization and the expression of the sarcomeric isoform of the TPM3 gene in cardiac and skeletal muscles from developing as well as adult chickens. Expression of TPM3α was performed by conventional RT-PCR as well as qRT-PCR using relative expression (by ΔCT as well as ΔΔCT methods) and by determining absolute copy number. The results employing all these methods show that the expression level of TPM3α is maximum in embryonic (10-day/15-day old) skeletal muscle and can barely be detected in both cardiac and skeletal muscles from the adult chicken. Our various RT-PCR analyses suggest that the expression of high molecular weight TPM3 isoforms are regulated at the transcription level from the proximal promoter at the 5'-end of the TPM3 gene.

Skeletal muscle and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder

Skeletal muscle is critical for mobility and many metabolic functions integral to survival and long-term health. Alcohol can affect skeletal muscle physiology and metabolism, which will have immediate and long-term consequences on health. While skeletal muscle abnormalities, including morphological, biochemical, and functional impairments, are well-documented in adults that excessively consume alcohol, there is a scarcity of information about the skeletal muscle in the offspring prenatally exposed to alcohol (“prenatal alcohol exposure”; PAE). This minireview examines the available studies addressing skeletal muscle abnormalities due to PAE. Growth restriction, fetal alcohol myopathy, and abnormalities in the neuromuscular system, which contribute to deficits in locomotion, are some direct, immediate consequences of PAE on skeletal muscle morphology and function. Long-term health consequences of PAE-related skeletal abnormalities include impaired glucose metabolism in the skeletal muscle, resulting in glucose intolerance and insulin resistance, leading to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. In general, there is limited information on the morphological, biochemical, and functional features of skeletal abnormalities in PAE offspring. There is a need to understand how PAE affects muscle growth and function at the cellular level during early development to improve the immediate and long-term health of offspring suffering from PAE.

Myosin substitution rate is affected by the amount of cytosolic myosin in cultured muscle cells

In striated muscles, approximately 300 myosin molecules form a single thick filament in myofibrils. Each myosin is continuously displaced by another myosin to maintain the thick filament structure. Our previous study using a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) technique showed that the myosin replacement rate is decreased by inhibition of protein synthesis, but myosin is still exchangeable. This result prompted us to examine whether myosin in the cytoplasm is involved in myosin replacement in myofibrils. To address this, FRAP was measured in green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged myosin heavy chain 3 (Myh3) expressing myotubes that were treated with streptolysin-O (SLO), which forms pores specifically in the plasma membrane to induce leakage of cytoplasmic proteins. Our biochemical data demonstrated that the cytoplasmic myosin content was reduced in SLO-permeabilized semi-intact myotubes. Furthermore, FRAP experiments showed a sluggish substitution rate of GFP-Myh3 in SLO-permeabilized myotubes. Taken together, these results demonstrate that the myosin substitution rate is significantly reduced by a decreased amount of myosin in the cytoplasm and that cytoplasmic myosin contributes to myosin replacement in myofibrils.

Conformational plasticity and evolutionary analysis of the myotilin tandem Ig domains

Myotilin is a component of the sarcomere where it plays an important role in organisation and maintenance of Z-disk integrity. This involves direct binding to F-actin and filamin C, a function mediated by its Ig domain pair. While the structures of these two individual domains are known, information about their relative orientation and flexibility remains limited. We set on to characterise the Ig domain pair of myotilin with emphasis on its molecular structure, dynamics and phylogeny. First, sequence conservation analysis of myotilin shed light on the molecular basis of myotilinopathies and revealed several motifs in Ig domains found also in I-band proteins. In particular, a highly conserved Glu344 mapping to Ig domain linker, was identified as a critical component of the inter-domain hinge mechanism. Next, SAXS and molecular dynamics revealed that Ig domain pair exists as a multi-conformation species with dynamic exchange between extended and compact orientations. Mutation of AKE motif to AAA further confirmed its impact on inter-domain flexibility. We hypothesise that the conformational plasticity of the Ig domain pair in its unbound form is part of the binding partner recognition mechanism.

Mechanical tension and spontaneous muscle twitching precede the formation of cross-striated muscle in vivo

Muscle forces are produced by repeated stereotypical actomyosin units called sarcomeres. Sarcomeres are chained into linear myofibrils spanning the entire muscle fiber. In mammalian body muscles, myofibrils are aligned laterally, resulting in their typical cross-striated morphology. Despite this detailed textbook knowledge about the adult muscle structure, it is still unclear how cross-striated myofibrils are built in vivo. Here, we investigate the morphogenesis of Drosophila abdominal muscles and establish them as an in vivo model for cross-striated muscle development. By performing live imaging, we find that long immature myofibrils lacking a periodic actomyosin pattern are built simultaneously in the entire muscle fiber and then align laterally to give mature cross-striated myofibrils. Interestingly, laser micro-lesion experiments demonstrate that mechanical tension precedes the formation of the immature myofibrils. Moreover, these immature myofibrils do generate spontaneous Ca²⁺-dependent contractions in vivo, which, when chemically blocked, result in cross-striation defects. Taken together, these results suggest a myofibrillogenesis model in which mechanical tension and spontaneous muscle twitching synchronize the simultaneous self-organization of different sarcomeric protein complexes to build highly regular cross-striated myofibrils spanning the length of large muscle fibers.

Summary: In Drosophila, immature myofibrils are built simultaneously across an entire muscle fiber, and then self-organize in a manner dependent on spontaneous contractions and mechanical tension.

α-Actinin/titin interaction: A dynamic and mechanically stable cluster of bonds in the muscle Z-disk

Stable anchoring of titin within the muscle Z-disk is essential for preserving muscle integrity during passive stretching. One of the main candidates for anchoring titin in the Z-disk is the actin cross-linker α-actinin. The calmodulin-like domain of α-actinin binds to the Z-repeats of titin. However, the mechanical and kinetic properties of this important interaction are still unknown. Here, we use a dual-beam optical tweezers assay to study the mechanics of this interaction at the single-molecule level. A single interaction of α-actinin and titin turns out to be surprisingly weak if force is applied. Depending on the direction of force application, the unbinding forces can more than triple. Our results suggest a model where multiple α-actinin/Z-repeat interactions cooperate to ensure long-term stable titin anchoring while allowing the individual components to exchange dynamically.

Assembly and Maintenance of Myofibrils in Striated Muscle

In this chapter, we present the current knowledge on de novo assembly, growth, and dynamics of striated myofibrils, the functional architectural elements developed in skeletal and cardiac muscle. The data were obtained in studies of myofibrils formed in cultures of mouse skeletal and quail myotubes, in the somites of living zebrafish embryos, and in mouse neonatal and quail embryonic cardiac cells. The comparative view obtained revealed that the assembly of striated myofibrils is a three-step process progressing from premyofibrils to nascent myofibrils to mature myofibrils. This process is specified by the addition of new structural proteins, the arrangement of myofibrillar components like actin and myosin filaments with their companions into so-called sarcomeres, and in their precise alignment. Accompanying the formation of mature myofibrils is a decrease in the dynamic behavior of the assembling proteins. Proteins are most dynamic in the premyofibrils during the early phase and least dynamic in mature myofibrils in the final stage of myofibrillogenesis. This is probably due to increased interactions between proteins during the maturation process. The dynamic properties of myofibrillar proteins provide a mechanism for the exchange of older proteins or a change in isoforms to take place without disassembling the structural integrity needed for myofibril function. An important aspect of myofibril assembly is the role of actin-nucleating proteins in the formation, maintenance, and sarcomeric arrangement of the myofibrillar actin filaments. This is a very active field of research. We also report on several actin mutations that result in human muscle diseases.

Myofibrillar Z-discs Are a Protein Phosphorylation Hot Spot with Protein Kinase C (PKCα) Modulating Protein Dynamics

The Z-disc is a protein-rich structure critically important for the development and integrity of myofibrils, which are the contractile organelles of cross-striated muscle cells. We here used mouse C2C12 myoblast, which were differentiated into myotubes, followed by electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) to generate contracting myotubes comprising mature Z-discs. Using a quantitative proteomics approach, we found significant changes in the relative abundance of 387 proteins in myoblasts versus differentiated myotubes, reflecting the drastic phenotypic conversion of these cells during myogenesis. Interestingly, EPS of differentiated myotubes to induce Z-disc assembly and maturation resulted in increased levels of proteins involved in ATP synthesis, presumably to fulfill the higher energy demand of contracting myotubes. Because an important role of the Z-disc for signal integration and transduction was recently suggested, its precise phosphorylation landscape further warranted in-depth analysis. We therefore established, by global phosphoproteomics of EPS-treated contracting myotubes, a comprehensive site-resolved protein phosphorylation map of the Z-disc and found that it is a phosphorylation hotspot in skeletal myocytes, underscoring its functions in signaling and disease-related processes. In an illustrative fashion, we analyzed the actin-binding multiadaptor protein filamin C (FLNc), which is essential for Z-disc assembly and maintenance, and found that PKCα phosphorylation at distinct serine residues in its hinge 2 region prevents its cleavage at an adjacent tyrosine residue by calpain 1. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching experiments indicated that this phosphorylation modulates FLNc dynamics. Moreover, FLNc lacking the cleaved Ig-like domain 24 exhibited remarkably fast kinetics and exceedingly high mobility. Our data set provides research community resource for further identification of kinase-mediated changes in myofibrillar protein interactions, kinetics, and mobility that will greatly advance our understanding of Z-disc dynamics and signaling.

The sarcomeric cytoskeleton: from molecules to motion

Highly ordered organisation of striated muscle is the prerequisite for the fast and unidirectional development of force and motion during heart and skeletal muscle contraction. A group of proteins, summarised as the sarcomeric cytoskeleton, is essential for the ordered assembly of actin and myosin filaments into sarcomeres, by combining architectural, mechanical and signalling functions. This review discusses recent cell biological, biophysical and structural insight into the regulated assembly of sarcomeric cytoskeleton proteins and their roles in dissipating mechanical forces in order to maintain sarcomere integrity during passive extension and active contraction. α-Actinin crosslinks in the Z-disk show a pivot-and-rod structure that anchors both titin and actin filaments. In contrast, the myosin crosslinks formed by myomesin in the M-band are of a ball-and-spring type and may be crucial in providing stable yet elastic connections during active contractions, especially eccentric exercise.

Increased α-Actinin-2 Expression in the Atrial Myocardium of Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Related to Rheumatic Heart Disease

OBJECTIVES

Atrial fibrosis, a marker of atrial structural remodeling, plays a critical role in atrial fibrillation (AF). α- Actinin-2 is associated with structural remodeling related to stretching. The transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad pathway plays an important role in atrial fibrosis. We investigated the effects of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway on α-actinin-2 in atrial fibrosis in patients with AF.

METHODS

Forty-one right atrial specimens obtained from patients with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) were divided into a chronic (c)AF group, i.e. RHD + cAF (n = 29), and a sinus rhythm group, i.e. RHD + sinus rhythm (n = 12). Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) and sinus rhythm who underwent heart surgery served as controls (n = 10). Fibrosis was assessed by histological examination, and expression of α-actinin-2, TGF-β1 and Smad2/phosphorylated Smad2 (p-Smad2) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR and Western blotting. In rat atrial fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1, the collagen content was measured using hydroxyproline detection, and α-actinin-2 and p-Smad2 were evaluated by semiquantitative reverse-transcription PCR and Western blotting.

RESULTS

The histology results revealed a significant increase in atrial fibrosis in AF patients. The collagen content, mRNA and protein expression levels of α-actinin-2 and the components of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway were significantly gradually increased in the CHD + sinus rhythm, RHD + sinus rhythm and RHD + cAF groups (p < 0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of α-actinin-2 and TGF-β1 in RHD patients were positively correlated with the collagen volume fraction. A positive correlation between the expression of α-actinin-2 and TGF-β1 was also observed. In rat atrial fibroblasts treated with TGF-β1, the collagen content was greater than that in the control group (p < 0.05), and the expression levels of α- actinin-2 and p-Smad2 were also upregulated (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

α-Actinin-2 expression was increased in the atrial tissues of patients with AF secondary to RHD. α-Actinin-2 was upregulated via the TGF-β1/Smad pathway in atrial fibroblasts, which suggests that it may be involved in TGF-β1/Smad pathway-induced atrial fibrosis in patients with AF.

The N-terminal tropomyosin- and actin-binding sites are important for leiomodin 2's function

Leiomodin is a potent actin nucleator related to tropomodulin, a capping protein localized at the pointed end of the thin filaments. Mutations in leiomodin-3 are associated with lethal nemaline myopathy in humans, and leiomodin-2-knockout mice present with dilated cardiomyopathy. The arrangement of the N-terminal actin- and tropomyosin-binding sites in leiomodin is contradictory and functionally not well understood. Using one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and the pointed-end actin polymerization assay, we find that leiomodin-2, a major cardiac isoform, has an N-terminal actin-binding site located within residues 43-90. Moreover, for the first time, we obtain evidence that there are additional interactions with actin within residues 124-201. Here we establish that leiomodin interacts with only one tropomyosin molecule, and this is the only site of interaction between leiomodin and tropomyosin. Introduction of mutations in both actin- and tropomyosin-binding sites of leiomodin affected its localization at the pointed ends of the thin filaments in cardiomyocytes. On the basis of our new findings, we propose a model in which leiomodin regulates actin poly-merization dynamics in myocytes by acting as a leaky cap at thin filament pointed ends.

Filamin C is a highly dynamic protein associated with fast repair of myofibrillar microdamage

Filamin c (FLNc) is a large dimeric actin-binding protein located at premyofibrils, myofibrillar Z-discs and myofibrillar attachment sites of striated muscle cells, where it is involved in mechanical stabilization, mechanosensation and intracellular signaling. Mutations in the gene encoding FLNc give rise to skeletal muscle diseases and cardiomyopathies. Here, we demonstrate by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching that a large fraction of FLNc is highly mobile in cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and in cardiac and skeletal muscles of live transgenic zebrafish embryos. Analysis of cardiomyocytes from Xirp1 and Xirp2 deficient animals indicates that both Xin actin-binding repeat-containing proteins stabilize FLNc selectively in premyofibrils. Using a novel assay to analyze myofibrillar microdamage and subsequent repair in cultured contracting cardiomyocytes by live cell imaging, we demonstrate that repair of damaged myofibrils is achieved within only 4 h, even in the absence of de novo protein synthesis. FLNc is immediately recruited to these sarcomeric lesions together with its binding partner aciculin and precedes detectable assembly of filamentous actin and recruitment of other myofibrillar proteins. These data disclose an unprecedented degree of flexibility of the almost crystalline contractile machinery and imply FLNc as a dynamic signaling hub, rather than a primarily structural protein. Our myofibrillar damage/repair model illustrates how (cardio)myocytes are kept functional in their mechanically and metabolically strained environment. Our results help to better understand the pathomechanisms and pathophysiology of early stages of FLNc-related myofibrillar myopathy and skeletal and cardiac diseases preceding pathological protein aggregation.

FLNC myofibrillar myopathy results from impaired autophagy and protein insufficiency

Myofibrillar myopathy is a progressive muscle disease characterized by the disintegration of muscle fibers and formation of protein aggregates. Causative mutations have been identified in nine genes encoding Z-disk proteins, including the actin binding protein filamin C (FLNC). To investigate the mechanism of disease in FLNC^W2710X myopathy we overexpressed fluorescently tagged FLNC or FLNC^W2710X in zebrafish. Expression of FLNC^W2710X causes formation of protein aggregates but surprisingly, our studies reveal that the mutant protein localizes correctly to the Z-disk and is capable of rescuing the fiber disintegration phenotype that results from FLNC knockdown. This demonstrates that the functions necessary for muscle integrity are not impaired, and suggests that it is the formation of protein aggregates and subsequent sequestration of FLNC away from the Z-disk that results in myofibrillar disintegration. Similar to those found in patients, the aggregates in FLNC^W2710X expressing fish contain the co-chaperone BAG3. FLNC is a target of the BAG3-mediated chaperone assisted selective autophagy (CASA) pathway and therefore we investigated its role, and the role of autophagy in general, in clearing protein aggregates. We reveal that despite BAG3 recruitment to the aggregates they are not degraded via CASA. Additionally, recruitment of BAG3 is sufficient to block alternative autophagy pathways which would otherwise clear the aggregates. This blockage can be relieved by reducing BAG3 levels or by stimulating autophagy. This study therefore identifies both BAG3 reduction and autophagy promotion as potential therapies for FLNC^W2710X myofibrillar myopathy, and identifies protein insufficiency due to sequestration, compounded by impaired autophagy, as the cause.

Knockout of Lmod2 results in shorter thin filaments followed by dilated cardiomyopathy and juvenile lethality

Leiomodin 2 (Lmod2) is an actin-binding protein that has been implicated in the regulation of striated muscle thin filament assembly; its physiological function has yet to be studied. We found that knockout of Lmod2 in mice results in abnormally short thin filaments in the heart. We also discovered that Lmod2 functions to elongate thin filaments by promoting actin assembly and dynamics at thin filament pointed ends. Lmod2-KO mice die as juveniles with hearts displaying contractile dysfunction and ventricular chamber enlargement consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy. Lmod2-null cardiomyocytes produce less contractile force than wild type when plated on micropillar arrays. Introduction of GFP-Lmod2 via adeno-associated viral transduction elongates thin filaments and rescues structural and functional defects observed in Lmod2-KO mice, extending their lifespan to adulthood. Thus, to our knowledge, Lmod2 is the first identified mammalian protein that functions to elongate actin filaments in the heart; it is essential for cardiac thin filaments to reach a mature length and is required for efficient contractile force and proper heart function during development.

Dynamics of myosin replacement in skeletal muscle cells

Highly organized thick filaments in skeletal muscle cells are formed from ~300 myosin molecules. Each thick-filament-associated myosin molecule is thought to be constantly exchanged. However, the mechanism of myosin replacement remains unclear, as does the source of myosin for substitution. Here, we investigated the dynamics of myosin exchange in the myofibrils of cultured myotubes by fluorescent recovery after photobleaching and found that myofibrillar myosin is actively replaced with an exchange half-life of ~3 h. Myosin replacement was not disrupted by the absence of the microtubule system or by actomyosin interactions, suggesting that known cytoskeletal systems are dispensable for myosin substitution. Intriguingly, myosin replacement was independent of myosin binding protein C, which links myosin molecules together to form thick filaments. This implies that an individual myosin molecule rather than a thick filament functions as an exchange unit. Furthermore, the myosin substitution rate was decreased by the inhibition of protein synthesis, suggesting that newly synthesized myosin, as well as preexisting cytosolic myosin, contributes to myosin replacement in myofibrils. Notably, incorporation and release of myosin occurred simultaneously in myofibrils, but rapid myosin release from myofibrils was observed without protein synthesis. Collectively, our results indicate that myosin shuttles between myofibrils and the nonmyofibrillar cytosol to maintain a dynamic equilibrium in skeletal muscle cells.

Zebrafish models for nemaline myopathy reveal a spectrum of nemaline bodies contributing to reduced muscle function

Nemaline myopathy is characterized by muscle weakness and the presence of rod-like (nemaline) bodies. The genetic etiology of nemaline myopathy is becoming increasingly understood with mutations in ten genes now known to cause the disease. Despite this, the mechanism by which skeletal muscle weakness occurs remains elusive, with previous studies showing no correlation between the frequency of nemaline bodies and disease severity. To investigate the formation of nemaline bodies and their role in pathogenesis, we generated overexpression and loss-of-function zebrafish models for skeletal muscle α-actin (ACTA1) and nebulin (NEB). We identify three distinct types of nemaline bodies and visualize their formation in vivo, demonstrating these nemaline bodies not only exhibit different subcellular origins, but also have distinct pathological consequences within the skeletal muscle. One subtype is highly dynamic and upon breakdown leads to the accumulation of cytoplasmic actin contributing to muscle weakness. Examination of a Neb-deficient model suggests this mechanism may be common in nemaline myopathy. Another subtype results from a reduction of actin and forms a more stable cytoplasmic body. In contrast, the final type originates at the Z-disk and is associated with myofibrillar disorganization. Analysis of zebrafish and muscle biopsies from ACTA1 nemaline myopathy patients demonstrates that nemaline bodies also possess a different protein signature. In addition, we show that the ACTA1^D286G mutation causes impaired actin incorporation and localization in the sarcomere. Together these data provide a novel examination of nemaline body origins and dynamics in vivo and identifies pathological changes that correlate with muscle weakness.