Excitation-contraction Coupling In Muscle Fibers Research Articles

Functional impact of an oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy mutation in PABPN1.

Mutations in the gene encoding poly(A)-binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) result in oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD). This disease is of late-onset, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Ca2+ stimulates muscle growth and contraction and, because OPMD courses with muscle atrophy and weakness, we hypothesized that the homeostasis of Ca2+ is altered in this disorder. C2C12 myotubes were transfected with cDNAs encoding either PABPN1 or the PABPN1-17A OPMD mutation. Subsequently, they were investigated concerning not only excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) and intracellular levels of Ca2+ , but also differentiation stage and nuclear structure. PABPN1-17A gave rise to: inhibition of Ca2+ release during ECC, depletion of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content, reduced expression of ryanodine receptors, altered nuclear morphology and incapability to stimulate myoblast fusion. PABPN1-17A failed to inhibit ECC in adult muscle fibres, suggesting that its effects are primarily related to muscle regeneration. Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is linked to mutations in the gene encoding poly(A)-binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1). OPMD mutations consist of an expansion of a tract that contains 10alanines (to 12-17). This disease courses with muscle weakness that begins in adulthood, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. In the present study, we investigated the functional effects of PABPN1 and an OPMD mutation (PABPN1-17A) using myotubes transfected with cDNAs encoding these proteins (GFP-tagged). PABPN1 stimulated myoblast fusion (100%), whereas PABPN1-17A failed to mimic this effect. Additionally, the OPMD mutation markedly altered nuclear morphology; specifically, it led to nuclei with a more convoluted and ovoid shape. Although PABPN1 and PABPN1-17A modified the expression of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ -ATPase and calsequestrin, the corresponding changes did not have a clear impact on [Ca2+ ]. Interestingly, neither L-type Ca2+ channels, nor voltage-gated sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release (VGCR) was altered by PABPN1. However, PABPN1-17A produced a selective inhibition of VGCR (50%). This effect probably arises from both lower expression of RyR1 and depletion of SR Ca2+ . The latter, however, was not related to inhibition of store-operated Ca2+ entry. Both PABPN1 constructs promoted a moderated decrease in cytosolic [Ca2+ ], which apparently results from down-regulation of excitation-coupled Ca2+ entry. On the other hand, PABPN1-17A did not alter ECC in muscle fibres, suggesting that adult muscle is less prone to developing deleterious effects. These results demonstrate that PABPN1 proteins regulate essential processes during myotube formation and support the notion that OPMD involves disruption of myogenesis, nuclear structure and homeostasis of Ca2+ .

Altered Ca(2+) signaling in skeletal muscle fibers of the R6/2 mouse, a model of Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat within the gene encoding the protein huntingtin. The resulting elongated glutamine (poly-Q) sequence of mutant huntingtin (mhtt) affects both central neurons and skeletal muscle. Recent reports suggest that ryanodine receptor-based Ca(2+) signaling, which is crucial for skeletal muscle excitation-contraction coupling (ECC), is changed by mhtt in HD neurons. Consequently, we searched for alterations of ECC in muscle fibers of the R6/2 mouse, a mouse model of HD. We performed fluorometric recordings of action potentials (APs) and cellular Ca(2+) transients on intact isolated toe muscle fibers (musculi interossei), and measured L-type Ca(2+) inward currents on internally dialyzed fibers under voltage-clamp conditions. Both APs and AP-triggered Ca(2+) transients showed slower kinetics in R6/2 fibers than in fibers from wild-type mice. Ca(2+) removal from the myoplasm and Ca(2+) release flux from the sarcoplasmic reticulum were characterized using a Ca(2+) binding and transport model, which indicated a significant reduction in slow Ca(2+) removal activity and Ca(2+) release flux both after APs and under voltage-clamp conditions. In addition, the voltage-clamp experiments showed a highly significant decrease in L-type Ca(2+) channel conductance. These results indicate profound changes of Ca(2+) turnover in skeletal muscle of R6/2 mice and suggest that these changes may be associated with muscle pathology in HD.

Increased Expression of Wild-Type or a Centronuclear Myopathy Mutant of Dynamin 2 in Skeletal Muscle of Adult Mice Leads to Structural Defects and Muscle Weakness

Dynamin 2 (DNM2) is a large GTPase implicated in many cellular functions, including cytoskeleton regulation and endocytosis. Although ubiquitously expressed, DNM2 was found mutated in two genetic disorders affecting different tissues: autosomal dominant centronuclear myopathy (ADCNM; skeletal muscle) and peripheral Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (peripheral nerve). To gain insight into the function of DNM2 in skeletal muscle and the pathological mechanisms leading to ADCNM, we introduced wild-type DNM2 (WT-DNM2) or R465W DNM2 (RW-DNM2), the most common ADCNM mutation, into adult wild-type mouse skeletal muscle by intramuscular adeno-associated virus injections. We detected altered localization of RW-DNM2 in mouse muscle. Several ADCNM features were present in RW-DNM2 mice: fiber atrophy, nuclear mislocalization, and altered mitochondrial staining, with a corresponding reduction in specific maximal muscle force. The sarcomere and triad structures were also altered. We report similar findings in muscle biopsy specimens from an ADCNM patient with the R465W mutation. In addition, expression of wild-type DNM2 induced some muscle defects, albeit to a lesser extent than RW-DNM2, suggesting that the R465W mutation has enhanced activity in vivo. In conclusion, we show the RW-DNM2 mutation acts in a dominant manner to cause ADCNM in adult muscle, and the disease arises from a primary defect in skeletal muscle rather than secondary to peripheral nerve involvement. Therefore, DNM2 plays important roles in the maintenance of adult muscle fibers.

Progressive Triad-Mitochondria Un-Coupling in Aging

An impairment of the mechanisms controlling the release of calcium from internal stores (excitation-contraction (EC) coupling) has been proposed to contribute to the age-related decline of muscle performance that accompanies aging (EC un-coupling theory). EC coupling in muscle fibers occurs at specialized intracellular junctions called calcium release units, or triads, which are specifically placed at sarcomere's I-A band transition. In recent publications we have shown that: a) in human muscle, the frequency of triads decreases significantly with age (Boncompagni et al., 2006; J Gerontol 61:995); and b) in mice, triads are tethered to mitochondria placed at the I band (Boncompagni et al., 2009; MBC 20:1059). Here we have studied the frequency, sarcomeric-localization, ultrastructure, and coupling of triads/mitochondria in EDL from male WT mice using transmission electron microscopy (TEM).Preliminary results indicates that the number of triads/100μm2 of longitudinal section in aging mice (n=4, 25-35 months of age) decreases compared to the adult mice (n=5, 3-12 months of age): 92±9 vs. 79±8. In addition, the percentage of abnormally positioned triads (longitudinal and/or oblique) increases. On the other hand, the total volume of mitochondria does not change significantly with age. However, the number of mitochondria-profiles/100μm2 of longitudinal section is reduced (54±7 vs. 43±6), suggesting a remodelling/fusion of these organelles. Finally, we have assessed the positioning of mitochondria in respect to myofibrils and triads: a) the number of mitochondria at the A band (misplaced) slightly increases with age (9% vs 3%), whereas the number of triads-mitochondria couples is significantly reduced: 39±5 vs. 26±4. Our observations indicates: a) a age-related partial disarrangement and spatial re-organization of EC coupling/mitochondrial apparatuses; and b) a decreased percentage of mitochondria functionally tethered to calcium release sites. This could in part explain the decline of muscle performance associated to increasing age.

T-tubule disorganization and defective excitation-contraction coupling in muscle fibers lacking myotubularin lipid phosphatase

Skeletal muscle contraction is triggered by the excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling machinery residing at the triad, a membrane structure formed by the juxtaposition of T-tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) cisternae. The formation and maintenance of this structure is key for muscle function but is not well characterized. We have investigated the mechanisms leading to X-linked myotubular myopathy (XLMTM), a severe congenital disorder due to loss of function mutations in the MTM1 gene, encoding myotubularin, a phosphoinositide phosphatase thought to have a role in plasma membrane homeostasis and endocytosis. Using a mouse model of the disease, we report that Mtm1-deficient muscle fibers have a decreased number of triads and abnormal longitudinally oriented T-tubules. In addition, SR Ca(2+) release elicited by voltage-clamp depolarizations is strongly depressed in myotubularin-deficient muscle fibers, with myoplasmic Ca(2+) removal and SR Ca(2+) content essentially unaffected. At the molecular level, Mtm1-deficient myofibers exhibit a 3-fold reduction in type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1) protein level. These data reveal a critical role of myotubularin in the proper organization and function of the E-C coupling machinery and strongly suggest that defective RyR1-mediated SR Ca(2+) release is responsible for the failure of muscle function in myotubular myopathy.

IGF‐I improves excitation‐contraction coupling in skeletal muscle fibers of dystrophic mdx mice

The absence of dystrophin in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) causes progressive muscle wasting and possibly aberrant intracellular signaling including abnormal excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) in skeletal muscle. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a potential therapy for DMD, and can alter ECC. We tested the hypothesis that muscle specific over-expression of IGF-I could ameliorate disruptions in ECC in muscle fibers from transgenic mdx (IGF-mdx) mice. Mechanically-skinned single fibers were prepared from the EDL muscles of mdx, IGF-mdx, and wild type mice. The number of depolarization-induced contractions (DICR) before a 50% reduction in amplitude was lower in mdx fibres (7 ± 1, n=15 fibers) than control (16 ± 2, n=12, P<0.05). There was no difference in SR Ca2+ properties. Rundown of DICR was improved significantly in IGF-mdx (14 ± 2, n=14) compared with mdx mice (7 ± 1, n=15, P<0.05). SR Ca2+ release was 300% higher in IGF-I-mdx mice, possibly due to a decrease in SR Ca2+ leak rate [mdx, 19.0 ± 3.5% of loaded SR (n=13) vs. IGF-mdx, 7.2 ± 3.0% (n=14)]. These results demonstrate that muscle specific over-expression of IGF-I in mdx mice can attenuate abnormal E-C coupling. Supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Association (USA).