Role of cardiac troponin I carboxy terminal mobile domain and linker sequence in regulating cardiac contraction

Abstract

Inhibition of striated muscle contraction at resting Ca2+ depends on the C-terminal half of troponin I (TnI) in thin filaments. Much focus has been on a short inhibitory peptide (Ip) sequence within TnI, but structural studies and identification of disease-associated mutations broadened emphasis to include a larger mobile domain (Md) sequence at the C-terminus of TnI. For Md to function effectively in muscle relaxation, tight mechanical coupling to troponin's core—and thus tropomyosin—is presumably needed. We generated recombinant, human cardiac troponins containing one of two TnI constructs: either an 8-amino acid linker between Md and the rest of troponin (cTnILink8), or an Md deletion (cTnI1-163). Motility assays revealed that Ca2+-sensitivity of reconstituted thin filament sliding was markedly increased with cTnILink8 (∼0.9 pCa unit leftward shift of speed-pCa relation compared to WT), and increased further when Md was missing entirely (∼1.4 pCa unit shift). Cardiac Tn's ability to turn off filament sliding at diastolic Ca2+ was mostly (61%), but not completely eliminated with cTnI1-163. TnI's Md is required for full inhibition of unloaded filament sliding, although other portions of troponin—presumably including Ip—are also necessary. We also confirm that TnI's Md is not responsible for superactivation of actomyosin cycling by troponin.