Inefficient glycosylation leads to high steady-state levels of actively degrading cardiac triadin-1

hnRNP U protein is required for normal pre-mRNA splicing and postnatal heart development and function

We report that mice lacking the heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein U (hnRNP U) in the heart develop lethal dilated cardiomyopathy and display numerous defects in cardiac pre-mRNA splicing. Mutant hearts have disorganized cardiomyocytes, impaired contractility, and abnormal excitation-contraction coupling activities. RNA-seq analyses of Hnrnpu mutant hearts revealed extensive defects in alternative splicing of pre-mRNAs encoding proteins known to be critical for normal heart development and function, including Titin and calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II delta (Camk2d). Loss of hnRNP U expression in cardiomyocytes also leads to aberrant splicing of the pre-mRNA encoding the excitation-contraction coupling component Junctin. We found that the protein product of an alternatively spliced Junctin isoform is N-glycosylated at a specific asparagine site that is required for interactions with specific protein partners. Our findings provide conclusive evidence for the essential role of hnRNP U in heart development and function and in the regulation of alternative splicing.

Transitions of protein traffic from cardiac ER to junctional SR

The junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (jSR) is an important and unique ER subdomain in the adult myocyte that concentrates resident proteins to regulate Ca(2+) release. To investigate cellular mechanisms for sorting and trafficking proteins to jSR, we overexpressed canine forms of junctin (JCT) or triadin (TRD) in adult rat cardiomyocytes. Protein accumulation over time was visualized by confocal fluorescence microscopy using species-specific antibodies. Newly synthesized JCTdog and TRDdog appeared by 12-24h as bright fluorescent puncta close to the nuclear surface, decreasing in intensity with increasing radial distance. With increasing time (24-48h), fluorescent puncta appeared at further radial distances from the nuclear surface, eventually populating jSR similar to steady-state patterns. CSQ2-DsRed, a form of CSQ that polymerizes ectopically in rough ER, prevented anterograde traffic of newly made TRDdog and JCTdog, demonstrating common pathways of intracellular trafficking as well as in situ binding to CSQ2 in juxtanuclear rough ER. Reversal of CSQ-DsRed interactions occurred when a form of TRDdog was used in which CSQ2-binding sites are removed ((del)TRD). With increasing levels of expression, CSQ2-DsRed revealed a novel smooth ER network that surrounds nuclei and connects the nuclear axis. TRDdog was retained in smooth ER by binding to CSQ2-DsRed, but escaped to populate jSR puncta. TRDdog and (del)TRD were therefore able to elucidate areas of ER-SR transition. High levels of CSQ2-DsRed in the ER led to loss of jSR puncta labeling, suggesting a plasticity of ER-SR transition sites. We propose a model of ER and SR protein traffic along microtubules, with prominent transverse/radial ER trafficking of JCT and TRD along Z-lines to populate jSR, and an abundant longitudinal/axial smooth ER between and encircling myonuclei, from which jSR proteins traffic.

Post-natal heart adaptation in a knock-in mouse model of calsequestrin 2-linked recessive catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia

Cardiac calsequestrin (CASQ2) contributes to intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis by virtue of its low-affinity/high-capacity Ca(2+) binding properties, maintains sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) architecture and regulates excitation-contraction coupling, especially or exclusively upon β-adrenergic stimulation. Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is an inherited arrhythmogenic disease associated with cardiac arrest in children or young adults. Recessive CPVT variants are due to mutations in the CASQ2 gene. Molecular and ultra-structural properties were studied in hearts of CASQ2(R33Q/R33Q) and of CASQ2(-/-) mice from post-natal day 2 to week 8. The drastic reduction of CASQ2-R33Q is an early developmental event and is accompanied by down-regulation of triadin and junctin, and morphological changes of jSR and of SR-transverse-tubule junctions. Although endoplasmic reticulum stress is activated, no signs of either apoptosis or autophagy are detected. The other model of recessive CPVT, the CASQ2(-/-) mouse, does not display the same adaptive pattern. Expression of CASQ2-R33Q influences molecular and ultra-structural heart development; post-natal, adaptive changes appear capable of ensuring until adulthood a new pathophysiological equilibrium.

Functional consequences of stably expressing a mutant calsequestrin (CASQ2D307H) in the CASQ2 null background

The role of calsequestrin (CASQ2) in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium (Ca(2+)) transport has gained significant attention since point mutations in CASQ2 were reported to cause ventricular arrhythmia. In the present study, we have critically evaluated the functional consequences of expressing the CASQ2(D307H) mutant protein in the CASQ2 null mouse. We recently reported that the mutant CASQ2(D307H) protein can be stably expressed in CASQ2 null hearts, and it targets appropriately to the junctional SR (Kalyanasundaram A, Bal NC, Franzini-Armstrong C, Knollmann BC, Periasamy M. J Biol Chem 285: 3076-3083, 2010). In this study, we found that introduction of CASQ2(D307H) protein in the CASQ2 null background partially restored triadin 1 levels, which were decreased in the CASQ2 null mice. Despite twofold expression (relative to wild-type CASQ2), the mutant protein failed to increase SR Ca(2+) load. We also found that the Ca(2+) transient decays slower in the CASQ2 null and CASQ2(D307H) cells. CASQ2(D307H) myocytes, when rhythmically paced and challenged with isoproterenol, exhibit spontaneous Ca(2+) waves similar to CASQ2 null myocytes; however, the stability of Ca(2+) cycling was increased in the CASQ2(D307H) myocytes. In the presence of isoproterenol, Ca(2+)-transient amplitude in CASQ2(D307H) myocytes was significantly decreased, possibly indicating an inherent defect in Ca(2+) buffering capacity and release from the mutant CASQ2 at high Ca(2+) concentrations. We also observed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in the CASQ2(D307H) mice, although lesser than in the CASQ2 null mice. These data suggest that CASQ2(D307H) point mutation may affect Ca(2+) buffering capacity and Ca(2+) release. We propose that poor interaction between CASQ2(D307H) and triadin 1 could affect ryanodine receptor 2 stability, thereby increasing susceptibility to delayed afterdepolarizations and triggered arrhythmic activity.

Heterogeneous cardiac proteasomes: mandated by diverse substrates?

Proteasome biology has taken central stage in cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. The molecular heterogeneity of proteasome subpopulations supports the specificity of proteasome function to degrade diverse substrate repertoires. Unveiling the dynamics of proteasome function should inspire new therapeutic strategies for combating cardiac disease.

The sarcoplasmic reticulum: an organized patchwork of specialized domains

The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal muscle cells is a convoluted structure composed of a variety of tubules and cisternae, which share a continuous lumen delimited by a single continuous membrane, branching to form a network that surrounds each myofibril. In this network, some specific domains basically represented by the longitudinal SR and the junctional SR can be distinguished. These domains are mainly dedicated to Ca(2+) homeostasis in relation to regulation of muscle contraction, with the longitudinal SR representing the sites of Ca(2+) uptake and storage and the junctional SR representing the sites of Ca(2+) release. To perform its functions, the SR takes contact with other cellular elements, the sarcolemma, the contractile apparatus and the mitochondria, giving rise to a number of interactions, most of which are still to be defined at the molecular level. This review will describe some of the most recent advancements in understanding the organization of this complex network and its specific domains. Furthermore, we shall address initial evidence on how SR proteins are retained at distinct SR domains.