1
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Marston S, Pinto JR. Suppression of lusitropy as a disease mechanism in cardiomyopathies. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 9:1080965. [PMID: 36698941 PMCID: PMC9870330 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.1080965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In cardiac muscle the action of adrenaline on β1 receptors of heart muscle cells is essential to adjust cardiac output to the body's needs. Adrenergic activation leads to enhanced contractility (inotropy), faster heart rate (chronotropy) and faster relaxation (lusitropy), mainly through activation of protein kinase A (PKA). Efficient enhancement of heart output under stress requires all of these responses to work together. Lusitropy is essential for shortening the heartbeat when heart rate increases. It therefore follows that, if the lusitropic response is not present, heart function under stress will be compromised. Current literature suggests that lusitropy is primarily achieved due to PKA phosphorylation of troponin I (TnI) and phospholamban (PLB). It has been well documented that PKA-induced phosphorylation of TnI releases Ca2+ from troponin C faster and increases the rate of cardiac muscle relaxation, while phosphorylation of PLB increases SERCA activity, speeding up Ca2+ removal from the cytoplasm. In this review we consider the current scientific evidences for the connection between suppression of lusitropy and cardiac dysfunction in the context of mutations in phospholamban and thin filament proteins that are associated with cardiomyopathies. We will discuss what advances have been made into understanding the physiological mechanism of lusitropy due to TnI and PLB phosphorylation and its suppression by mutations and we will evaluate the evidence whether lack of lusitropy is sufficient to cause cardiomyopathy, and under what circumstances, and consider the range of pathologies associated with loss of lusitropy. Finally, we will discuss whether suppressed lusitropy due to mutations in thin filament proteins can be therapeutically restored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Marston
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jose Renato Pinto
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Florida State University College of Medicine, Tallahassee, FL, United States
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2
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Hantz ER, Lindert S. Computational Exploration and Characterization of Potential Calcium Sensitizing Mutations in Cardiac Troponin C. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:6201-6208. [PMID: 36383927 PMCID: PMC10497304 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Calcium-dependent heart muscle contraction is regulated by the cardiac troponin protein complex (cTn) and specifically by the N-terminal domain of its calcium binding subunit (cNTnC). cNTnC contains one calcium binding site (site II), and altered calcium binding in this site has been studied for decades. It has been previously shown that cNTnC mutants, which increase calcium sensitization may have therapeutic benefits, such as restoring cardiac muscle contractility and functionality post-myocardial infarction events. Here, we computationally characterized eight mutations for their potential effects on calcium binding affinity in site II of cNTnC. We utilized two distinct methods to estimate calcium binding: adaptive steered molecular dynamics (ASMD) and thermodynamic integration (TI). We observed a sensitizing trend for all mutations based on the employed ASMD methodology. The TI results showed excellent agreement with experimentally known calcium binding affinities in wild-type cNTnC. Based on the TI results, five mutants were predicted to increase calcium sensitivity in site II. This study presents an interesting comparison of the two computational methods, which have both been shown to be valuable tools in characterizing the impacts of calcium sensitivity in mutant cNTnC systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R. Hantz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210
| | - Steffen Lindert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210
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3
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Cool AM, Lindert S. Umbrella Sampling Simulations Measure Switch Peptide Binding and Hydrophobic Patch Opening Free Energies in Cardiac Troponin. J Chem Inf Model 2022; 62:5666-5674. [PMID: 36283742 PMCID: PMC9712266 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The cardiac troponin (cTn) complex is an important regulatory protein in heart contraction. Upon binding of Ca2+, cTn undergoes a conformational shift that allows the troponin I switch peptide (cTnISP) to be released from the actin filament and bind to the troponin C hydrophobic patch (cTnCHP). Mutations and modifications to this complex can change its sensitivity to Ca2+ and alter the energetics of the transition from the Ca2+-unbound, cTnISP-unbound form to the Ca2+-bound, cTnISP-bound form. We utilized targeted molecular dynamics (TMD) to obtain a trajectory of this transition pathway, followed by umbrella sampling to estimate the free energy associated with the cTnISP-cTnCHP binding and the cTnCHP opening events for wild-type (WT) cTn. We were able to reproduce experimental values for the cTnISP-cTnCHP binding event and obtain cTnCHP opening free energies in agreement with previous computational measurements of smaller cTnC systems. This excellent agreement for WT cTn demonstrated the strength of computational methods in studying the dynamics and energetics of the cTn complex. We then introduced mutations to the cTn complex that cause cardiomyopathy or alter its Ca2+ sensitivity and observed a general decrease in the free energy of opening the cTnCHP. For these same mutations, we observed no general trend in the effect on the cTnISP-cTnCHP binding event. Our method sets the stage for future computational studies on this system that predict the consequences of yet uncharacterized mutations on cTn dynamics and energetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin M. Cool
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210
| | - Steffen Lindert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43210
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4
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Knight WE, Woulfe KC. Dysfunctional sarcomeric relaxation in the heart. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 26:100535. [PMID: 35603011 PMCID: PMC9119547 DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Since cardiac relaxation is commonly impaired in heart failure caused by many different etiologies, identifying druggable targets is a common goal. While many factors contribute to cardiac relaxation, this review focuses on sarcomeric relaxation and dysfunction. Any alteration in how sarcomeric proteins interact can lead to significant shifts in sarcomeric relaxation that may contribute to diastolic dysfunction. Considering examples of sarcomeric dysfunction that have been reported in 3 different pathologies, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, will provide insights into the role sarcomeric dysfunction plays in impaired cardiac relaxation. This will ultimately improve our understanding of sarcomeric physiology and uncover new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter E. Knight
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19 Ave, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Kathleen C. Woulfe
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12700 E 19 Ave, Aurora, CO 80045
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5
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Cool AM, Lindert S. Computational Methods Elucidate Consequences of Mutations and Post-translational Modifications on Troponin I Effective Concentration to Troponin C. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:7388-7396. [PMID: 34213339 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c03844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ca2+ binding to cardiac troponin C (cTnC) causes a conformational shift that exposes a hydrophobic patch (cTnCHP) for binding of the cTnI switch peptide (cTnISP), ultimately resulting in contraction of the heart. The inhibitory peptide (cTnIIP), attached at the N-terminal end of the cTnISP, serves as a tether for the cTnISP to the rest of the troponin complex. Due to this tethered nature, the cTnISP remains within proximity of the hydrophobic patch region, resulting in the cTnCHP experiencing an elevated "effective concentration" of the cTnISP. Mutations to the cTnIIP region have been hypothesized to cause disease by affecting the ability of the cTnISP to "find" the hydrophobic patch, resulting in alterations to the heart's ability to contract normally. We tested this hypothesis using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the troponin complex using a model that contained all three subunits of troponin: C, I, and T. We developed methods that allowed us to quantitatively measure the effective concentration of the cTnISP from the simulations. A significant reduction in the cTnISP effective concentration was observed when the cTnIIP was removed from the system, showcasing the importance of a tethered cTnISP. Through accelerated MD methods, we proposed the minimum effective concentration of a tethered cTnISP to be approximately 21 mM. Modification of the cTnIIP via PKC-mediated phosphorylation of T143 was shown to significantly increase the estimated effective concentration of cTnISP, help the cTnISP find the cTnCHP more effectively, and maintain the relative shape of the cTnIIP when compared to the native model. All of these data indicate that pT143 may be able to help promote binding of cTnISP to the cTnCHP. We then tested six mutations within the cTnIIP region that are known cTnC Ca2+-sensitizing mutations and have been linked with cardiomyopathy. We did not observe a significant reduction in the effective concentration upon the introduction of these mutations; however, we did observe increased variability in the flexibility and dynamics of the cTnIIP region when compared to native. Our observations led us to hypothesize that the mechanism by which these cardiomyopathic mutations affect Ca2+ sensitivity is by altering the off rate of cTnISP from the hydrophobic patch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin M Cool
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
| | - Steffen Lindert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
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6
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Lin YH, Yap J, Ramachandra CJ, Hausenloy DJ. New insights provided by myofibril mechanics in inherited cardiomyopathies. CONDITIONING MEDICINE 2019; 2:213-224. [PMID: 32133438 PMCID: PMC7055865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cardiomyopathies represent a heterogeneous group of cardiac disorders that perturb cardiac contraction and/or relaxation, and can result in arrhythmias, heart failure, and sudden cardiac death. Based on morphological and functional differences, cardiomyopathies have been classified into hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). It has been well documented that mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins are associated with the onset of inherited cardiomyopathies. However, correlating patient genotype to the clinical phenotype has been challenging because of the complex genetic backgrounds, environmental influences, and lifestyles of individuals. Thus, "scaling down" the focus to the basic contractile unit of heart muscle using isolated single myofibril function techniques is of great importance and may be used to understand the molecular basis of disease-causing sarcomeric mutations. Single myofibril bundles harvested from diseased human or experimental animal hearts, as well as cultured adult cardiomyocytes or human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells, can be used, thereby providing an ideal multi-level, cross-species platform to dissect sarcomeric function in cardiomyopathies. Here, we will review the myofibril function technique, and discuss alterations in myofibril mechanics, which are known to occur in sarcomeric genetic mutations linked to inherited HCM, DCM, and RCM, and describe the therapeutic potential for future target identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Hsi Lin
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Jonathan Yap
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, USA
| | - Chrishan J.A. Ramachandra
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Derek J. Hausenloy
- National Heart Research Institute Singapore, National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic Disorders Program, Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
- Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Singapore, Singapore
- The Hatter Cardiovascular Institute, University College London, London, UK
- The National Institute of Health Research University College London Hospitals
- Biomedical Research Centre, Research & Development, London, UK
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Centro de Biotecnologia-FEMSA, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
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7
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Aboelkassem Y, Powers JD, McCabe KJ, McCulloch AD. Multiscale Models of Cardiac Muscle Biophysics and Tissue Remodeling in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathies. CURRENT OPINION IN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING 2019; 11:35-44. [PMID: 31886450 DOI: 10.1016/j.cobme.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial hypertrophy is the result of sustained perturbations to the mechanical and/or neurohormonal homeostasis of cardiac cells and is driven by integrated, multiscale biophysical and biochemical processes that are currently not well defined. In this brief review, we highlight recent computational and experimental models of cardiac hypertrophy that span mechanisms from the molecular level to the tissue level. Specifically, we focus on: (i) molecular-level models of the structural dynamics of sarcomere proteins in hypertrophic hearts, (ii) cellular-level models of excitation-contraction coupling and mechanosensitive signaling in disease-state myocytes, and (iii) organ-level models of myocardial growth kinematics and predictors thereof. Finally, we discuss how spanning these scales and combining multiple experimental/computational models will provide new information about the processes governing hypertrophy and potential methods to prevent or reverse them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasser Aboelkassem
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Joseph D Powers
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Kimberly J McCabe
- Department of Computational Physiology, Simula Research Laboratory, Lysaker, Norway
| | - Andrew D McCulloch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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8
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Bowman JD, Lindert S. Computational Studies of Cardiac and Skeletal Troponin. Front Mol Biosci 2019; 6:68. [PMID: 31448287 PMCID: PMC6696891 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2019.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Troponin is a key regulatory protein in muscle contraction, consisting of three subunits troponin C (TnC), troponin I (TnI), and troponin T (TnT). Calcium association to TnC initiates contraction by causing a series of dynamic and conformational changes that allow the switch peptide of TnI to bind and subsequently cross bridges to form between the thin and thick filament of the sarcomere. Owing to its pivotal role in contraction regulation, troponin has been the focus of numerous computational studies over the last decade. These studies elegantly supplemented a large volume of experimental work and focused on the structure, dynamics and function of the whole troponin complex, individual subunits, and even on segments of the thin filament. Molecular dynamics, Brownian dynamics, and free energy simulations have been used to elucidate the conformational dynamics and underlying free energy landscape of troponin, calcium, and switch peptide binding, as well as the effect of disease mutations, small molecules and post-translational modifications such as phosphorylation. Frequently, simulations have been used to confirm or explain experimental observations. Computer-aided drug discovery tools have been employed to identify novel potential calcium sensitizing agents binding to the TnC-TnI interface. Finally, Markov modeling has contributed to simulating contraction within the sarcomere on the mesoscale. Here we are reviewing and classifying the existing computational work on troponin and its subunits, outline current gaps in simulations elucidating troponin's role in contraction and suggest potential future developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D Bowman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Steffen Lindert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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9
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van der Velden J, Stienen GJM. Cardiac Disorders and Pathophysiology of Sarcomeric Proteins. Physiol Rev 2019; 99:381-426. [PMID: 30379622 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00040.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The sarcomeric proteins represent the structural building blocks of heart muscle, which are essential for contraction and relaxation. During recent years, it has become evident that posttranslational modifications of sarcomeric proteins, in particular phosphorylation, tune cardiac pump function at rest and during exercise. This delicate, orchestrated interaction is also influenced by mutations, predominantly in sarcomeric proteins, which cause hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy. In this review, we follow a bottom-up approach starting from a description of the basic components of cardiac muscle at the molecular level up to the various forms of cardiac disorders at the organ level. An overview is given of sarcomere changes in acquired and inherited forms of cardiac disease and the underlying disease mechanisms with particular reference to human tissue. A distinction will be made between the primary defect and maladaptive/adaptive secondary changes. Techniques used to unravel functional consequences of disease-induced protein changes are described, and an overview of current and future treatments targeted at sarcomeric proteins is given. The current evidence presented suggests that sarcomeres not only form the basis of cardiac muscle function but also represent a therapeutic target to combat cardiac disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolanda van der Velden
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam , The Netherlands ; and Department of Physiology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Ger J M Stienen
- Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam , The Netherlands ; and Department of Physiology, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
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10
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Onwuli DO, Samuel SF, Sfyri P, Welham K, Goddard M, Abu-Omar Y, Loubani M, Rivero F, Matsakas A, Benoit DM, Wade M, Greenman J, Beltran-Alvarez P. The inhibitory subunit of cardiac troponin (cTnI) is modified by arginine methylation in the human heart. Int J Cardiol 2019; 282:76-80. [PMID: 30772011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2019.01.102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The inhibitory subunit of cardiac troponin (cTnI) is a gold standard cardiac biomarker and also an essential protein in cardiomyocyte excitation-contraction coupling. The interactions of cTnI with other proteins are fine-tuned by post-translational modification of cTnI. Mutations in cTnI can lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS Here we report, for the first time, that cTnI is modified by arginine methylation in human myocardium. Using Western blot, we observed reduced levels of cTnI arginine methylation in human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy compared to dilated cardiomyopathy biopsies. Similarly, using a rat model of cardiac hypertrophy we observed reduced levels of cTnI arginine methylation compared to sham controls. Using mass spectrometry, we identified cTnI methylation sites at R74/R79 and R146/R148 in human cardiac samples. R146 and R148 lie at the boundary between the critical cTnI inhibitory and switch peptides; PRMT1 methylated an extended inhibitory peptide at R146 and R148 in vitro. Mutations at R145 that have been associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy hampered R146/R148 methylation by PRMT1 in vitro. H9c2 cardiac-like cells transfected with plasmids encoding for a methylation-deficient R146A/R148A cTnI protein developed cell hypertrophy, with a 32% increase in cell size after 72 h, compared to control cells. DISCUSSION Our results provide evidence for a novel and significant cTnI post-translational modification. Our work opens the door to translational investigations of cTnI arginine methylation as a biomarker of disease, which can include e.g. cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction and heart failure, and offers a novel way to investigate the effect of cTnI mutations in the inhibitory/switch peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donatus O Onwuli
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Rd, HU6 7RX Hull, UK
| | | | - Pagona Sfyri
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Kevin Welham
- School of Chemistry, University of Hull, Cottingham Rd, HU6 7RX Hull, UK
| | - Martin Goddard
- Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB23 3RE, UK
| | - Yasir Abu-Omar
- Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB23 3RE, UK
| | - Mahmoud Loubani
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK; Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Castle Rd, Cottingham HU16 5JQ, UK
| | - Francisco Rivero
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Antonios Matsakas
- Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
| | - David M Benoit
- School of Chemistry, University of Hull, Cottingham Rd, HU6 7RX Hull, UK
| | - Mark Wade
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Rd, HU6 7RX Hull, UK
| | - John Greenman
- Biomedical Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Rd, HU6 7RX Hull, UK
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11
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Bowman JD, Lindert S. Molecular Dynamics and Umbrella Sampling Simulations Elucidate Differences in Troponin C Isoform and Mutant Hydrophobic Patch Exposure. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:7874-7883. [PMID: 30070845 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b05435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Troponin C (TnC) facilitates muscle contraction through calcium-binding within its N-terminal region (NTnC). As previously observed using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, this calcium-binding event leads to an increase in the dynamics of helices lining a hydrophobic patch on TnC. Simulation times of multiple microseconds were required to even see a partial opening of the hydrophobic patch, limiting the ability to thoroughly and quantitatively investigate these rare events. Here we describe the application of umbrella sampling to probe the TnC hydrophobic patch opening in a more targeted and quantitative fashion. Umbrella sampling was utilized to investigate the differences in the free energy of opening between cardiac (cTnC) and fast skeletal TnC (sTnC). We found that, in agreement with previous reports, holo (calcium-bound) sTnC had a lower free energy of opening compared with holo cTnC. Additionally, differences in the free energy of opening of hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) cTnC systems were investigated. MD simulations and umbrella sampling revealed a lower free energy of opening for the HCM mutations A8V and A31S, as well as the calcium-sensitizing mutation L48Q. The DCM mutations, Y5H, Q50R, and E59D/D75Y, all exhibited a higher free energy of opening. An umbrella sampling simulation of cTnI-bound holo cTnC exhibited the lowest free energy in the open configuration, in agreement with experimental data. In conclusion, this study presents a novel and successful protocol for applying umbrella sampling simulations to quantitatively study the molecular basis of muscle contraction and proposes a mechanism by which HCM and DCM-associated mutations influence contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob D Bowman
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210 , United States
| | - Steffen Lindert
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry , Ohio State University , Columbus , Ohio 43210 , United States
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12
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Regnier M. Mechanistic complexity of contractile dysfunction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Gen Physiol 2018; 150:1051-1053. [PMID: 30037852 PMCID: PMC6080894 DOI: 10.1085/jgp.201812091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Reflections on recent work providing mechanistic insight into the pathological effects of a cardiac troponin T mutation.
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13
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Matsuo T, Tominaga T, Kono F, Shibata K, Fujiwara S. Modulation of the picosecond dynamics of troponin by the cardiomyopathy-causing mutation K247R of troponin T observed by quasielastic neutron scattering. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2017; 1865:1781-1789. [PMID: 28923663 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Troponin (Tn), consisting of three subunits (TnC, TnI, and TnT), regulates cardiac muscle contraction in a Ca2+-dependent manner. Various point mutations of human cardiac Tn are known to cause familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy due to aberration of the regulatory function. In this study, we investigated the effects of one of these mutations, K247R of TnT, on the picosecond dynamics of the Tn core domain (Tn-CD), consisting of TnC, TnI and TnT2 (183-288 residues of TnT), by carrying out the quasielastic neutron scattering measurements on the reconstituted Tn-CD containing either the wild-type TnT2 (wtTn-CD) or the mutant TnT2 (K247R-Tn-CD) in the absence and presence of Ca2+. It was found that Ca2+-binding to the wtTn-CD decreases the residence time of atomic motions in the Tn-CD with slight changes in amplitudes, suggesting that the regulatory function mainly requires modulation of frequency of atomic motions. On the other hand, the K247R-Tn-CD shows different dynamic behavior from that of the wtTn-CD both in the absence and presence of Ca2+. In particular, the K247R-Tn-CD exhibits a larger amplitude than the wtTn-CD in the presence of Ca2+, suggesting that the mutant can explore larger conformational space than the wild-type. This increased flexibility should be relevant to the functional aberration of this mutant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuhito Matsuo
- Quantum Beam Science Research Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
| | - Taiki Tominaga
- Neutron Science and Technology Center, Comprehensive Research Organization for Science and Society, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
| | - Fumiaki Kono
- Quantum Beam Science Research Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan
| | - Kaoru Shibata
- Neutron Science Section, J-PARC Center, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1195, Japan
| | - Satoru Fujiwara
- Quantum Beam Science Research Directorate, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Tokai, Ibaraki 319-1106, Japan.
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14
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Papadaki M, Marston SB. The Importance of Intrinsically Disordered Segments of Cardiac Troponin in Modulating Function by Phosphorylation and Disease-Causing Mutations. Front Physiol 2016; 7:508. [PMID: 27853436 PMCID: PMC5089987 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Troponin plays a central role in regulation of muscle contraction. It is the Ca2+ switch of striated muscles including the heart and in the cardiac muscle it is physiologically modulated by PKA-dependent phosphorylation at Ser22 and 23. Many cardiomyopathy-related mutations affect Ca2+ regulation and/or disrupt the relationship between Ca2+ binding and phosphorylation. Unlike the mechanism of heart activation, the modulation of Ca2+-sensitivity by phosphorylation of the cardiac specific N-terminal segment of TnI (1–30) is structurally subtle and has proven hard to investigate. The crystal structure of cardiac troponin describes only the relatively stable core of the molecule and the crucial mobile parts of the molecule are missing including TnI C-terminal region, TnI (1–30), TnI (134–149) (“inhibitory” peptide) and the C-terminal 28 amino acids of TnT that are intrinsically disordered. Recent studies have been performed to answer this matter by building structural models of cardiac troponin in phosphorylated and dephosphorylated states based on peptide NMR studies. Now these have been updated by more recent concepts derived from molecular dynamic simulations treating troponin as a dynamic structure. The emerging model confirms the stable core structure of troponin and the mobile structure of the intrinsically disordered segments. We will discuss how we can describe these segments in terms of dynamic transitions between a small number of states, with the probability distributions being altered by phosphorylation and by HCM or DCM-related mutations that can explain how Ca2+-sensitivity is modulated by phosphorylation and the effects of mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Papadaki
- Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University of Chicago Maywood, IL, USA
| | - Steven B Marston
- Myocardial Function, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London London, UK
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Westfall MV. Contribution of Post-translational Phosphorylation to Sarcomere-Linked Cardiomyopathy Phenotypes. Front Physiol 2016; 7:407. [PMID: 27683560 PMCID: PMC5021686 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2016.00407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondary shifts develop in post-translational phosphorylation of sarcomeric proteins in multiple animal models of inherited cardiomyopathy. These signaling alterations together with the primary mutation are predicted to contribute to the overall cardiac phenotype. As a result, identification and integration of post-translational myofilament signaling responses are identified as priorities for gaining insights into sarcomeric cardiomyopathies. However, significant questions remain about the nature and contribution of post-translational phosphorylation to structural remodeling and cardiac dysfunction in animal models and human patients. This perspective essay discusses specific goals for filling critical gaps about post-translational signaling in response to these inherited mutations, especially within sarcomeric proteins. The discussion focuses primarily on pre-clinical analysis of animal models and defines challenges and future directions in this field.
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