SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM: ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE TRIADIC JUNCTION

S100A1 and calmodulin regulation of ryanodine receptor in striated muscle

The release of Ca2+ ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum through ryanodine receptor calcium release channels represents the critical step linking electrical excitation to muscular contraction in the heart and skeletal muscle (excitation-contraction coupling). Two small Ca2+ binding proteins, S100A1 and calmodulin, have been demonstrated to bind and regulate ryanodine receptor in vitro. This review focuses on recent work that has revealed new information about the endogenous roles of S100A1 and calmodulin in regulating skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling. S100A1 and calmodulin bind to an overlapping domain on the ryanodine receptor type 1 to tune the Ca2+ release process, and thereby regulate skeletal muscle function. We also discuss past, current and future work surrounding the regulation of ryanodine receptors by calmodulin and S100A1 in both cardiac and skeletal muscle, and the implications for excitation-contraction coupling.

S100A1 promotes action potential-initiated calcium release flux and force production in skeletal muscle

The role of S100A1 in skeletal muscle is just beginning to be elucidated. We have previously shown that skeletal muscle fibers from S100A1 knockout (KO) mice exhibit decreased action potential (AP)-evoked Ca(2+) transients, and that S100A1 binds competitively with calmodulin to a canonical S100 binding sequence within the calmodulin-binding domain of the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor. Using voltage clamped fibers, we found that Ca(2+) release was suppressed at all test membrane potentials in S100A1(-/-) fibers. Here we examine the role of S100A1 during physiological AP-induced muscle activity, using an integrative approach spanning AP propagation to muscle force production. With the voltage-sensitive indicator di-8-aminonaphthylethenylpyridinium, we first demonstrate that the AP waveform is not altered in flexor digitorum brevis muscle fibers isolated from S100A1 KO mice. We then use a model for myoplasmic Ca(2+) binding and transport processes to calculate sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) release flux initiated by APs and demonstrate decreased release flux and greater inactivation of flux in KO fibers. Using in vivo stimulation of tibialis anterior muscles in anesthetized mice, we show that the maximal isometric force response to twitch and tetanic stimulation is decreased in S100A1(-/-) muscles. KO muscles also fatigue more rapidly upon repetitive stimulation than those of wild-type counterparts. We additionally show that fiber diameter, type, and expression of key excitation-contraction coupling proteins are unchanged in S100A1 KO muscle. We conclude that the absence of S100A1 suppresses physiological AP-induced Ca(2+) release flux, resulting in impaired contractile activation and force production in skeletal muscle.

STUDIES OF THE TRIAD : I. Structure of the Junction in Frog Twitch Fibers

The structure of the junction between sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and transverse tubular (T) system at the triad has been studied in twitch fibers of the frog. The junction is formed by flattened surfaces of the SR lateral sacs and the T-system tubule, which face each other at a distance of 120–140 A. At periodic intervals of about 300 A, the SR membrane forms small projections, whose tips are joined to the T system membrane by some amorphous material. The SR projections and the amorphous material are here called SR feet. The feet are disposed in two parallel rows, two such rows being present on either side of the T-system tubule. The junctional area between the feet is apparently empty. The feet cover no more than 30% of the T system surface area and 3% of the total SR area. The functional significance of this interpretation of the junctional structure is discussed.

Barnacle muscle: Ca2+, activation and mechanics

In this review, aspects of the ways in which Ca2+ is transported and regulated within muscle cells have been considered, with particular reference to crustacean muscle fibres. The large size of these fibres permits easy access to the internal environment of the cell, allowing it to be altered by microinjection or microperfusion. At rest, Ca2+ is not in equilibrium across the cell membrane, it enters the cell down a steep electrochemical gradient. The free [Ca2+] at rest is maintained at a value close to 200 nM by a combination of internal buffering systems, mainly the SR, mitochondria, and the fixed and diffusible Ca(2+)-binding proteins, as well as by an energy-dependent extrusion system operating across the external cell membrane. This system relies upon the inward movement of Na+ down its own electrochemical gradient to provide the energy for the extrusion of Ca2+ ions. As a result of electrical excitation, voltage-sensitive channels for Ca2+ are activated and permit Ca2+ to enter the cell more rapidly than at rest. It has been possible to determine both the amount of Ca2+ entering by this step, and what part this externally derived Ca2+ plays in the development of force as well as in the free Ca2+ change. The latter can be determined directly by Ca(2+)-sensitive indicators introduced into the cell sarcoplasm. A combination of techniques, allowing both the total and free Ca2+ changes to be assessed during electrical excitation, has provided valuable information as to how muscle cells buffer their Ca2+ in order to regulate the extent of the change in the free Ca2+ concentration. The data indicate that the entering Ca2+ can only make a small direct contribution to the force developed by the cell. The implication here is that the major source of Ca2+ for contraction must be derived from the internal Ca2+ storage sites within the SR system, a view reinforced by caged Ca2+ methods. The ability to measure the free Ca2+ concentration changes within a single cell during activation has also provided the opportunity to analyse, in detail, the likely relations between free Ca2+ and the process of force development in muscle. The fact that the free Ca2+ change precedes the development of force implies that there are delays in the mechanism, either at the site of Ca2+ attachment on the myofibril, or at some later stage in the process of force development that were not previously anticipated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Relationship of the sarcoplasmic reticulum to fibril and triadic junction development in skeletal muscle fibers of fetal monkeys and humans

Examinations of stages of fibril development in muscle fibers of seven Rhesus monkey and six human fetuses reveal SR tubules encircling the Z lines at all stages of fibril development. The encircling SR tubules are continuous with the SR network of tubules which is found surrounding fibrils at all stages of development observed. The SR tubules encircling the Z lines show connections (electron-opaque strands) with the Z lines. The developing triadic junction shows a progressive increase in complexity of structures within the junction. First, membranes of T and SR become apposed with no visible structure between them- Second, tenuous connections are found traversing the space between apposed membranes. Third, well developed bridges are seen traversing the space. And finally, an intermediate density midway between the apposed membranes and parallel to them is found in favorable sections. Junctions between T tubule membranes were also observed and the structures in these junctions are somewhat similar to those found in junctions between T and SR membranes. The change in orientation of triads from predominantly longitudinal to predominantly transverse is complete in the 18-week monkey fetus and incomplete in the latest stage (28-week) of fetal development observed in humans.

Studies of the triad. IV. Structure of the junction in frog slow fibers

The structure of the triadic junction in frog slow fibers has been studied and compared with that of twitch fibers. The junctional gap is wider (by approximately 13%) in slow fibers. The junctional feet have the same size and disposition as in twitch fibers, although the size and shape of the junctional areas are different. It is concluded that the role of triads in slow fibers is the same as in twitch fibers

The ultrastructure of the cat myocardium. I. Ventricular papillary muscle

The ultrastructure of cat papillary muscle was studied with respect to the organization of the contractile material, the structure of the organelles, and the cell junctions. The morphological changes during prolonged work in vitro and some effects of fixation were assessed. The myofilaments are associated in a single coherent bundle extending throughout the fiber cross-section. The absence of discrete "myofibrils" in well preserved cardiac muscle is emphasized. The abundant mitochondria confined in clefts among the myofilaments often have slender prolongations, possibly related to changes in their number or their distribution as energy sources within the contractile mass. The large T tubules that penetrate ventricular cardiac muscle fibers at successive I bands are arranged in rows and are lined with a layer of protein-polysaccharide. Longitudinal connections between T tubules are common. The simple plexiform sarcoplasmic reticulum is continuous across the Z lines, and no circumferential "Z tubules" were identified. Specialized contacts between the reticulum and the sarcolemma are established on the T tubules and the cell periphery via subsarcolemmal saccules or cisterns. At cell junctions, a 20 A gap can be demonstrated between the apposed membranes in those areas commonly interpreted as sites of membrane fusion. In papillary muscles worked in vitro without added substrate, there is a marked depletion of both glycogen and lipid. No morphological evidence for preferential use of glycogen was found.

Osmotic responses demonstrating the extracellular character of the sarcoplasmic reticulum

1. Changes in the dimensions of the sarcoplasmic reticulum in frog sartorius muscles exposed to hypertonic and hypotonic solutions have been studied with the electron microscope.2. The volume of the sarcoplasmic reticulum has been found to be linearly related with a negative slope to the reciprocal of the osmotic pressure. Over the range 0.75 to 3.5 x normal osmotic pressure the reticulum volume has been calculated to change from 11.5 to 18.5% of normal cell volume.3. These changes in sarcoplasmic reticulum volume correspond to the calculated changes in the volume of the intra-fibre sucrose compartment, postulated by earlier workers on the basis of studies on changes in cell volume with changes in osmotic pressure in living muscles.4. To explain these and other related findings on the distribution of electrolytes in muscle, it is proposed that the sarcoplasmic reticulum of skeletal muscle is an extracellular compartment.5. The significance of this hypothesis for the mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling is discussed.

Structure of coupled and uncoupled cell junctions

Cells of Chironomus salivary glands and Malpighian tubules have junctions of the "septate" kind. This is the only kind of junction discerned which is large enough to effect the existing degree of intercellular communication. The electron microscopic observations of the "septate" junction conform to a honeycomb structure, with 80-A-thick electron-opaque walls and 90-A-wide transparent cores, connecting the cellular surface membranes. A projection pattern of light and dark bands (the "septa") with a 150-A periodicity results when the electron beam is directed normal to any set of honeycomb walls. Treatment of the salivary gland cells with media, which interrupt cellular communication (without noticeable alteration of cellular adhesion) by reducing junctional membrane permeability or perijunctional insulation, produces no alterations in the junctional structure discernible in electron micrographs of glutaraldehyde-fixed cell material.

Nickel substitution for calcium in excitation-contraction coupling of skeletal muscle

In 1962 Frank (22) reported that the addition of any one of a number of divalent cations, including Ni, to a Ca-free Ringer solution prevented the rapid loss of contractility seen in the absence of external Ca. To investigate further the Ni-Ca substitution, studies were made of (45)Ca and (63)Ni exchange during contraction and at rest using frog striated muscle. In contrast to (45)Ca, it was found that there is no increase of (63)Ni uptake associated with a K contracture of the sartorius muscle. The rates of loss of (63)Ni and (45)Ca from resting toe muscles previously bathed in the respective radioisotopes are not significantly different. Resting and action potentials, after 1 hr in a Ringer solution with Ni replacing Ca, closely resemble these potentials in normal Ca-Ringer's solution. Studies on the syneresis of isolated myofibrils indicate that Ni cannot replace Ca in activating this reaction. It is suggested that Ca is required for at least two steps in E-C coupling: one is the spread of excitation at the sarcolemma and transverse tubular system; the second is the activation of actomyosin ATPase. Conceivably Ni can substitute for Ca in the former but not in the latter.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum of striated muscle: localization of potential calcium binding sites

Fish branchial muscle stained at a low pH with thorium dioxide shows localization of the stain over the sacroplasmic reticulum. Binding of the positively charged thorium micelles with dissociated acid groups of polyanions in this region suggests a possible mechanism for the storage and release of divalent cations such as calcium.