Kinetics Of Force Development Research Articles

Mavacamten has a differential impact on force generation in myofibrils from rabbit psoas and human cardiac muscle.

Mavacamten (MYK-461) is a small-molecule allosteric inhibitor of sarcomeric myosins being used in preclinical/clinical trials for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy treatment. A better understanding of its impact on force generation in intact or skinned striated muscle preparations, especially for human cardiac muscle, has been hindered by diffusional barriers. These limitations have been overcome by mechanical experiments using myofibrils subject to perturbations of the contractile environment by sudden solution changes. Here, we characterize the action of mavacamten in human ventricular myofibrils compared with fast skeletal myofibrils from rabbit psoas. Mavacamten had a fast, fully reversible, and dose-dependent negative effect on maximal Ca2+-activated isometric force at 15°C, which can be explained by a sudden decrease in the number of heads functionally available for interaction with actin. It also decreased the kinetics of force development in fast skeletal myofibrils, while it had no effect in human ventricular myofibrils. For both myofibril types, the effects of mavacamten were independent from phosphate in the low-concentration range. Mavacamten did not alter force relaxation of fast skeletal myofibrils, but it significantly accelerated the relaxation of human ventricular myofibrils. Lastly, mavacamten had no effect on resting tension but inhibited the ADP-stimulated force in the absence of Ca2+. Altogether, these effects outline a motor isoform-specific dependence of the inhibitory effect of mavacamten on force generation, which is mediated by a reduction in the availability of strongly actin-binding heads. Mavacamten may thus alter the interplay between thick and thin filament regulation mechanisms of contraction in association with the widely documented drug effect of stabilizing myosin motor heads into autoinhibited states.

Omecamtiv Mecarbil Modulation of Force Generation in Single Myofibrils from Human Cardiac Muscle

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a small molecule proved to enhance the function of the beta-myosin motor and presently used for the treatment of heart failure. Despite the positive outcomes of clinical trials, the mechanistic basis of its action is controversial and little is known of its functional impact in human cardiac sarcomeres. Here myofibrils from human donor left ventricle (frozen samples) have been used to study the effects of μmolar [OM] on isometric force in relaxing conditions (pCa 9) and at maximal (pCa 4.5) or half-maximal (pCa 5.75) calcium activation, both in control conditions (15°C, equimolar DMSO, contaminant [Pi] ∼ 170µM) or in presence of 5 mM [Pi]. In all conditions tested, OM increased isometric force with a complex dose-dependent effect peaking (about 40% increase) at 0.5 µM and never decreasing below control values. As already reported in human cardiac muscle (Swenson et al. 2017), OM strongly depressed the kinetics of force development up to 90% at 10 µM OM. Of note, OM was found to decrease the inhibition of force operated by Pi, in agreement with observations in rabbit slow-muscle (Governali et al. 2020), but the effect was modest and occurred at low (1-2 mM) [Pi]. At pCa 9 OM induced calcium-independent force development which approached the level of calcium activated tension at 10 µM OM. The kinetics of the calcium-independent force development at pCa 9 was very slow and dose-independent. The results support a role of OM in operating a complex perturbation of the thin/thick filament regulatory state as a result of its binding to myosin allosteric sites coupled to Pi release that favours the formation of strongly actin-bound motors. SilicoFCM EU H2020 grant agreement n. 777204.

Contractile deficits in engineered cardiac microtissues as a result of MYBPC3 deficiency and mechanical overload

The integration of in vitro cardiac tissue models, human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and genome-editing tools allows for the enhanced interrogation of physiological phenotypes and the recapitulation of disease pathologies. Here, in a cardiac tissue model consisting of filamentous 3D matrices populated with cardiomyocytes (CMs) derived from healthy wild-type hiPSCs (WT hiPSC-CMs) or from isogenic hiPSCs deficient in the sarcomere protein cardiac myosin binding protein C (MYBPC3−/− hiPSC-CMs), we show that the WT microtissues adapted to the mechanical environment with increased contraction force commensurate to matrix stiffness, whereas the MYBPC3−/− microtissues exhibited impaired force-development kinetics regardless of matrix stiffness and deficient contraction force only when grown on matrices with high fiber stiffness. Under mechanical overload, the MYBPC3−/− microtissues had a higher degree of calcium transient abnormalities, and exhibited an accelerated decay of calcium dynamics as well as calcium desensitization, which accelerated when contracting against stiffer fibers. Our findings suggest that MYBPC3 deficiency and the presence of environmental stresses synergistically lead to contractile deficits in the cardiac tissues.

Pre-Activation of Cardiomyocytes Determines Contractile Force and Speed of Contraction; Role of Titin and Calcium

Cardiomyocytes have, through splicing, an exquisite control over the length of titin, enabling it to regulate passive stiffness. As titin sets the preload of the cardiomyocyte, we hypothesized that together with diastolic Ca2+ it pre-activates the cardiomyocyte during diastole and that this is a major determinant of force production in the subsequent systolic phase. Through this mechanism titin would play an important role in active force development and length-dependent activation. Mutations in the splicing factor RNA binding motif protein (RBM20) results in the expression of large, highly compliant titin isoforms. We measured single cardiomyocyte work-loops that mimic the cardiac cycle in wildtype (WT) and heterozygous (HET) RBM20 deficient rats, with long compliant titin. In addition we studied membrane-permeabilized cardiomyocytes with different amounts of diastolic calcium. At low pacing frequencies, myocytes isolated from HET left ventricles were unable to produce normal levels of work (55% of WT), but this difference disappeared when diastolic calcium increased at high pacing frequencies. HET myocytes operated at higher SL to achieve the same level of work (2.10 µm vs. 1.94 µm at 6 Hz). To delineate the effects of diastolic Ca2+ and titin pre-activation on force generation, measurements were performed in detergent-permeabilized cardiomyocytes isolated from rat hearts. In these cells cardiac twitches were simulated by transiently (1 s) exposing the cell to a Ca2+-concentration of 2 µM. Increasing pre-activation by pre-stretching the myocyte increased the kinetics of force development and total force development. Increasing diastolic Ca2+ did increase force development, but only within a small concentration range. These findings are consistent with our hypothesis that pre-activation can increase force development. Highly compliant titin allows cells to function at higher diastolic Ca2+, but this is expected to result in limited contractile reserve.

A missense mutation within the C6-domain of cMyBP-C results in cardiac enlargement and depressed ventricular function

Cardiac myosin-binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) plays a key role in determining the force and kinetics of myocardial contraction, primarily by binding to either myosin subfragment-2 or actin or both. By modulating the probability of myosin cross-bridge binding to actin, cMyBP-C normally acts to govern the kinetics of force development and relaxation. To determine the effects on cardiac morphology and function due to a novel cMyBP-C W792R missense mutation associated with clinical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans. We generated cMyBP-C-W792R heterozygous and homozygous knock-in mice to investigate the structural and functional phenotypes associated with a missense mutation within the C6-domain of cMyBP-C. Compared to wild-type, homozygous W792R knock-in hearts exhibited significant ventricular and atrial dilation. While the W792R mutant protein was expressed at equivalent levels as in wild-type mice, the extent of phosphorylation of the mutant cMyBP-C protein was markedly reduced. Measurements of steady-state force and cross-bridge cycling kinetics showed that homozygous cMyBP-C W792R skinned myocardium exhibited a significant increase in the Ca2+-sensitivity of force and accelerated cross-bridge cycling kinetics (ktr) at maximal levels of Ca2+-activation, compared to WT myocardium. Cardiac function, as assessed by transthoracic echocardiography, revealed depressed indices of systolic and diastolic ventricular function in the homozygous W792R KI mice. These results demonstrate that a mutation within the mid-region of cMyBP-C can disrupt the dynamic regulation between myosin and actin that is normally governed by cMyBP-C, thereby leading to aberrant cardiac enlargement and commensurate diminution of in vivo ventricular function.

Pre-Activation of Cardiomyocytes Determines Speed of Contraction: Role of Titin

The giant myofilament protein titin has an extendable region that functions as a molecular spring. Cardiomyocytes have exquisite control over the length of titin, through splicing, enabling it to regulate passive stiffness. We hypothesized that titin as it sets the preload on the cardiomyocyte when stretched, together with diastolic Ca2+ pre-activates the cardiomyocyte during diastole and that this pre-activation is a major determinant for force production in the subsequent systolic phase. Via this route titin is thought to play an important role in active force development. Mutations in the splicing factor RNA binding motif protein (RBM20) results in the expression of large, highly compliant titin isoforms. In the present study we aimed to investigate the effect of long, highly compliant titin on the contractile properties of single cardiomyocytes. We measured single cardiomyocyte work-loops that mimic the cardiac cycle, in wildtype (WT) and heterozygous (HET) RBM20 deficient rats. In addition we studied detergent-permeabilized human patient samples that had known variations in titin based passive stiffness. At low pacing frequencies, myocytes isolated from HET left ventricles were unable to produce normal levels of work (55% of WT), but this difference disappeared when diastolic calcium increased at high pacing frequencies (>6 Hz). HET myocytes operated at higher SL to achieve the same level of work (2.1µm vs. 1.94µm at 6 Hz). In detergent-permeabilized cardiomyocytes isolated from human and rat heart we simulated cardiac twitches by transiently (0.5 s) exposing the cell to a physiological calcium concentration of pCa 5.7. Increasing pre-activation by bathing the cells in pCa 6.7 or pre-stretching the myocyte increased the kinetics of force development and thus the total force development within a transient activation. This is consistent with our hypothesis that pre-activation can increase force development in a time limited contraction such as a cardiac twitch. Pre-activation was pre-load dependent as the sarcomere length to which the myocytes had to be stretched for equivalent levels of pre-activation varied with the compliance of titin.

Revisiting Frank–Starling: regulatory light chain phosphorylation alters the rate of force redevelopment (ktr) in a length‐dependent fashion

Key points Regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation has been shown to alter the ability of muscle to produce force and power during shortening and to alter the rate of force redevelopment (k tr) at submaximal [Ca2+].Increasing RLC phosphorylation ∼50% from the in vivo level in maximally [Ca2+]‐activated cardiac trabecula accelerates k tr.Decreasing RLC phosphorylation to ∼70% of the in vivo control level slows k tr and reduces force generation. k tr is dependent on sarcomere length in the physiological range 1.85–1.94 μm and RLC phosphorylation modulates this response.We demonstrate that Frank–Starling is evident at maximal [Ca2+] activation and therefore does not necessarily require length‐dependent change in [Ca2+]‐sensitivity of thin filament activation.The stretch response is modulated by changes in RLC phosphorylation, pinpointing RLC phosphorylation as a modulator of the Frank–Starling law in the heart.These data provide an explanation for slowed systolic function in the intact heart in response to RLC phosphorylation reduction. Force and power in cardiac muscle have a known dependence on phosphorylation of the myosin‐associated regulatory light chain (RLC). We explore the effect of RLC phosphorylation on the ability of cardiac preparations to redevelop force (k tr) in maximally activating [Ca2+]. Activation was achieved by rapidly increasing the temperature (temperature‐jump of 0.5–20ºC) of permeabilized trabeculae over a physiological range of sarcomere lengths (1.85–1.94 μm). The trabeculae were subjected to shortening ramps over a range of velocities and the extent of RLC phosphorylation was varied. The latter was achieved using an RLC‐exchange technique, which avoids changes in the phosphorylation level of other proteins. The results show that increasing RLC phosphorylation by 50% accelerates k tr by ∼50%, irrespective of the sarcomere length, whereas decreasing phosphorylation by 30% slows k tr by ∼50%, relative to the k tr obtained for in vivo phosphorylation. Clearly, phosphorylation affects the magnitude of k tr following step shortening or ramp shortening. Using a two‐state model, we explore the effect of RLC phosphorylation on the kinetics of force development, which proposes that phosphorylation affects the kinetics of both attachment and detachment of cross‐bridges. In summary, RLC phosphorylation affects the rate and extent of force redevelopment. These findings were obtained in maximally activated muscle at saturating [Ca2+] and are not explained by changes in the Ca2+‐sensitivity of acto‐myosin interactions. The length‐dependence of the rate of force redevelopment, together with the modulation by the state of RLC phosphorylation, suggests that these effects play a role in the Frank–Starling law of the heart.

Novel insights on the relationship between T-tubular defects and contractile dysfunction in a mouse model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Abnormalities of cardiomyocyte Ca2+ homeostasis and excitation–contraction (E–C) coupling are early events in the pathogenesis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and concomitant determinants of the diastolic dysfunction and arrhythmias typical of the disease. T-tubule remodelling has been reported to occur in HCM but little is known about its role in the E–C coupling alterations of HCM. Here, the role of T-tubule remodelling in the electro-mechanical dysfunction associated to HCM is investigated in the Δ160E cTnT mouse model that expresses a clinically-relevant HCM mutation. Contractile function of intact ventricular trabeculae is assessed in Δ160E mice and wild-type siblings. As compared with wild-type, Δ160E trabeculae show prolonged kinetics of force development and relaxation, blunted force-frequency response with reduced active tension at high stimulation frequency, and increased occurrence of spontaneous contractions. Consistently, prolonged Ca2+ transient in terms of rise and duration are also observed in Δ160E trabeculae and isolated cardiomyocytes. Confocal imaging in cells isolated from Δ160E mice reveals significant, though modest, remodelling of T-tubular architecture. A two-photon random access microscope is employed to dissect the spatio-temporal relationship between T-tubular electrical activity and local Ca2+ release in isolated cardiomyocytes. In Δ160E cardiomyocytes, a significant number of T-tubules (>20%) fails to propagate action potentials, with consequent delay of local Ca2+ release. At variance with wild-type, we also observe significantly increased variability of local Ca2+ transient rise as well as higher Ca2+-spark frequency. Although T-tubule structural remodelling in Δ160E myocytes is modest, T-tubule functional defects determine non-homogeneous Ca2+ release and delayed myofilament activation that significantly contribute to mechanical dysfunction.

The novel cardiac myosin activator omecamtiv mecarbil increases the calcium sensitivity of force production in isolated cardiomyocytes and skeletal muscle fibres of the rat.

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM) is a novel cardiac myosin activator drug for inotropic support in systolic heart failure. Here we have assessed the concentration-dependent mechanical effects of OM in permeabilized cardiomyocyte-sized preparations and single skeletal muscle fibres of Wistar-Kyoto rats under isometric conditions. Ca2+ -dependent active force production (Factive ), its Ca2+ sensitivity (pCa50 ), the kinetic characteristics of Ca2+ -regulated activation and relaxation, and Ca2+ -independent passive force (Fpassive ) were monitored in Triton X-100-skinned preparations with and without OM (3nM-10 μM). In permeabilized cardiomyocytes, OM increased the Ca2+ sensitivity of force production (ΔpCa50 : 0.11 or 0.34 at 0.1 or 1 μM respectively). The concentration-response relationship of the Ca2+ sensitization was bell-shaped, with maximal effects at 0.3-1 μM OM (EC50 : 0.08 ± 0.01 μM). The kinetics of force development and relaxation slowed progressively with increasing OM concentration. Moreover, OM increased Fpassive in the cardiomyocytes with an apparent EC50 value of 0.26 ± 0.11 μM. OM-evoked effects in the diaphragm muscle fibres with intrinsically slow kinetics were largely similar to those in cardiomyocytes, while they were less apparent in muscle fibres with fast kinetics. OM acted as a Ca2+ -sensitizing agent with a downstream mechanism of action in both cardiomyocytes and diaphragm muscle fibres. The mechanism of action of OM is connected to slowed activation-relaxation kinetics and at higher OM concentrations increased Fpassive production.

Phosphoregulation of Cardiac Inotropy via Myosin Binding Protein-C During Increased Pacing Frequency or β1-Adrenergic Stimulation.

Mammalian hearts exhibit positive inotropic responses to β-adrenergic stimulation as a consequence of protein kinase A-mediated phosphorylation or as a result of increased beat frequency (the Bowditch effect). Several membrane and myofibrillar proteins are phosphorylated under these conditions, but the relative contributions of these to increased contractility are not known. Phosphorylation of cardiac myosin-binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) by protein kinase A accelerates the kinetics of force development in permeabilized heart muscle, but its role in vivo is unknown. Such understanding is important because adrenergic responsiveness of the heart and the Bowditch effect are both depressed in heart failure. The roles of cMyBP-C phosphorylation were studied using mice in which either WT or nonphosphorylatable forms of cMyBP-C [ser273ala, ser282ala, ser302ala: cMyBP-C(t3SA)] were expressed at similar levels on a cMyBP-C null background. Force and [Ca(2+)]in measurements in isolated papillary muscles showed that the increased force and twitch kinetics because increased pacing or β1-adrenergic stimulation were nearly absent in cMyBP-C(t3SA) myocardium, even though [Ca(2+)]in transients under each condition were similar to WT. Biochemical measurements confirmed that protein kinase A phosphorylated ser273, ser282, and ser302 in WT cMyBP-C. In contrast, CaMKIIδ, which is activated by increased pacing, phosphorylated ser302 principally, ser282 to a lesser degree, and ser273 not at all. Phosphorylation of cMyBP-C increases the force and kinetics of twitches in living cardiac muscle. Further, cMyBP-C is a principal mediator of increased contractility observed with β-adrenergic stimulation or increased pacing because of protein kinase A and CaMKIIδ phosphorylations of cMyB-C.

Cell and Myofibril Contractile Properties of hiPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes from a Patient with a MYH7 Mutation Associated with Familial Cardiomyopathy

Myosin heavy chain 7 (MYH7) mutations are associated with familial cardiomyopathies (FCM) and result in a high rate of sudden cardiac death. Human induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) have recently shown promise as a model for studying FCM. We identified a cohort with familial cardiomyopathy (FCM) associated with a MYH7 mutation (E848G) and middle-age onset of systolic dysfunction and arrhythmias. hiPSC-CMs from patient affected (FCM-CMs) and non-affected (WT-CMs) individuals were generated from skin fibroblasts. Here we report, for the first time, contractile properties of isolated myofibrils from these cultured hiPSC-CMs for comparison using cultured cells and 3D engineered cardiac tissue (3D-ECT) constructs. Isolated myofibrils were obtained from differentiation day 20 hiPSC-CMs that were replated onto fibronectin-coated nanopatterned cover slides and matured in culture for an additional 60 days to obtain elongated and aligned myofibrils. This procedure produced hiPSC-CMs that were usually > 100+ µm in length. hiPSC- FCM-CMs and WT-CMs were harvested and skinned in a rigor solution containing 1% Triton and contractile properties of single or small bundles of myofibrils were measured in a custom built apparatus with rapid solution switching capabilities. During maximal calcium activation FCM-CM myofibrils produced approximately half the amount of force of WT-CM myofibrils, but preliminary data suggests no differences in the kinetics of force development or relaxation. This compares well with 50 day cardiomyocytes plated on nano-patterned surfaces or seeded into 3D-ECT constructs, where shortening and force (respectively) of FCM-CMs was much less than for WT-CMs, with no difference in calcium transient amplitudes. We speculate this early stage contractile deficit may contribute to disease development and conclude hiPSC-FCM-CMs can be a viable model for mechanical studies of cardiomyopathies in vitro.

Myofilament dysfunction contributes to impaired myocardial contraction in the infarct border zone.

After myocardial infarction, a poorly contracting nonischemic border zone forms adjacent to the infarct. The cause of border zone dysfunction is unclear. The goal of this study was to determine the myofilament mechanisms involved in postinfarction border zone dysfunction. Two weeks after anteroapical infarction of sheep hearts, we studied in vitro isometric and isotonic contractions of demembranated myocardium from the infarct border zone and a zone remote from the infarct. Maximal force development (Fmax) of the border zone myocardium was reduced by 31 ± 2% versus the remote zone myocardium (n = 6/group, P < 0.0001). Decreased border zone Fmax was not due to a reduced content of contractile material, as assessed histologically, and from myosin content. Furthermore, decreased border zone Fmax did not involve altered cross-bridge kinetics, as assessed by muscle shortening velocity and force development kinetics. Decreased border zone Fmax was associated with decreased cross-bridge formation, as assessed from muscle stiffness in the absence of ATP where cross-bridge formation should be maximized (rigor stiffness was reduced 34 ± 6%, n = 5, P = 0.011 vs. the remote zone). Furthermore, the border zone myocardium had significantly reduced phosphorylation of myosin essential light chain (ELC; 41 ± 10%, n = 4, P < 0.05). However, for animals treated with doxycycline, an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases, rigor stiffness and ELC phosphorylation were not reduced in the border zone myocardium, suggesting that doxycycline had a protective effect. In conclusion, myofilament dysfunction contributes to postinfarction border zone dysfunction, myofilament dysfunction involves impaired cross-bridge formation and decreased ELC phosphorylation, and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition may be beneficial for limiting postinfarct border zone dysfunction.

Systematic classification of tablet disintegrants by water uptake and force development kinetics.

Water uptake and force development of disintegrating tablets provide a high degree of information about the disintegration mechanisms and process itself. An apparatus for the simultaneous measurement of water uptake and force development of tablets is presented, and the gathered data are analysed. Flat faced, 10 mm, dibasic calcium phosphate tablets containing 2% disintegrant are investigated with the newly constructed apparatus. The force is determined with a texture analyser, whereas the water uptake is recorded by a balance. Different measurement regimes are compared with each other. Measured curves are analysed according to their shape and fitted with a modified Hill equation. Known disintegration mechanisms can be confirmed with the newly constructed apparatus - swelling for sodium starch glycolate and croscarmellose sodium, and shape recovery for crospovidone disintegrants. Different brands of polacrilin potassium act by different mechanisms. All curves could be fitted successfully with a modified Hill equation. A novel classification to facilitate the appropriate disintegrant selection is presented on basis of the fit parameters. The new apparatus allows the acquisition of water uptake and force data simultaneously. Parameters calculated with the modified Hill equation provide a simple way to classify disintegrants according to their behaviour.

Performance of tablet disintegrants: impact of storage conditions and relative tablet density

Tablet disintegration can be influenced by several parameters, such as storage conditions, type and amount of disintegrant, and relative tablet density. Even though these parameters have been mentioned in the literature, the understanding of the disintegration process is limited. In this study, water uptake and force development of disintegrating tablets are analyzed, as they reveal underlying processes and interactions. Measurements were performed on dibasic calcium phosphate tablets containing seven different disintegrants stored at different relative humidities (5–97%), and on tablets containing disintegrants with different mechanisms of action (swelling and shape recovery), compressed to different relative densities. Disintegration times of tablets containing sodium starch glycolate are affected most by storage conditions, which is displayed in decreased water uptake and force development kinetics. Disintegration times of tablets with a swelling disintegrant are only marginally affected by relative tablet density, whereas the shape recovery disintegrant requires high relative densities for quick disintegration. The influence of relative tablet density on the kinetics of water uptake and force development greatly depends on the mechanism of action. Acquired data allows a detailed analysis of the influence of storage conditions and mechanisms of action on disintegration behavior.

Impact of E163R cTnT Mutation on Cardiac Mechanics and Energetics in a Murine Model

Introduction: Many of cTnT mutations linked to cardiomyopathies fall the TNT1 domain/N terminal tail region of unresolved high definition structure. This region (∼94-170) of cTnT is critical to Tm binding and contraction regulation. Here, the impact of the E163R mutation in cTnT-TNT1 on contractile function and tension cost was investigated using intact and skinned preparations from WT and transgenic mouse hearts.Methods: Left and right ventricular trabeculae were dissected from non-transgenic wild type (WT) and heterozygous (Δ160E or E163R) mouse hearts and mounted isometrically to record twitch tension or, when skinned, Ca2+ activated force. Myofibrillar ATPase activity was measured by fluorimetric enzyme coupled assay (de Tombe and Stienen, 1995).Results: Myocardium of E163R mice shows: (i) no change of myosin isoform expression (ii) maintained peak isomentric twitch tension at all stimulation frequencies, (iii) prolonged time to peak and time to 50% relaxation, with preserved rate-adaptation of twitch duration, (iv) changes of the short-term interval force relationship and increased occurrence of spontaneous contractions. No significant differences were found in maximum Ca2+ activated tension of E163R and WT skinned trabeculae. However, Ca2+ sensitivity of tension was significantly increased in E163R skinned trabeculae when compared with WT. As to the economy of force maintenance, preliminary experiments suggest an increase of tension cost in trabeculae from E163R hearts. Resting ATPase activity also tended to be higher in E163R preparations. Kinetics of force development and relaxation will be assessed on single myofibrils, isolated from the same hearts.Conclusions: Both primary sarcomeric changes and secondary E-C coupling alterations contribute to mechanical impairment in E163R cTnT mutant myocardium. Supported by: EC Grant n. 241577 (BIG-Heart)

Cardiac troponin I phosphorylation and the force–length relationship

Cardiac troponin I phosphorylation and the force–length relationship

Contractility of myofibrils from the heart and diaphragm muscles measured with atomic force cantilevers: Effects of heart-specific deletion of arginyl-tRNA–protein transferase

Contractile properties of myofibrils from the myocardium and diaphragm in chronic heart failure are not well understood. We investigated myofibrils in a knockout (KO) mouse model with cardiac-specific deletion of arginyl-tRNA-protein transferase (α-MHCAte1), which presents dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that chronic heart failure in α-MHCAte1 mice is associated with abnormal contractile properties of the heart and diaphragm. We used a newly developed system of atomic force cantilevers (AFC) to compare myofibrils from α-MHCAte1 and age-matched wild type mice (WT). Myofibrils from the myocardium and the diaphragm were attached to the AFC used for force measurements during activation/deactivation cycles at different sarcomere lengths. In the heart, α-MHCAte1 myofibrils presented a reduced force during full activation (89±9 nN/μm(2)) when compared to WT (132±11 nN/μm(2)), and the decrease was not influenced by sarcomere length. These myofibrils presented similar kinetics of force development (K(act)), redevelopment (K(tr)), and relaxation (K(rel)). In the diaphragm, α-MHCAte1 myofibrils presented an increased force during full activation (209±31 nN/μm(2)) when compared to WT (123±20 nN/μm(2)). Diaphragm myofibrils of α-MHCAte1 and WT presented similar K(act), but α-MHCAte1 myofibrils presented a faster K(rel) (6.11±0.41s(-1) vs 4.63±0.41 s(-1)). Contrary to our working hypothesis, diaphragm myofibrils from α-MHCAte1 mice produced an increased force compared to myofibrils from WT. These results suggest a potential compensatory mechanism by which the diaphragm works under loading conditions in the α-MHCAte1 chronic heart failure model.

Myofilament lattice structure in presence of a skeletal myopathy-related tropomyosin mutation

Human tropomyosin mutations deregulate skeletal muscle contraction at the cellular level. One key feature is the slowing of the kinetics of force development. The aim of the present study was to characterize the potential underlying molecular mechanisms by recording and analyzing the X-ray diffraction patterns of human membrane-permeabilized muscle cells expressing a particular β-tropomyosin mutation (E41K). During resting conditions, the d1,0 lattice spacing, Δ1,0 and I1,1 to I1,0 ratio were not different from control values. These results suggest that, in presence of the E41K β-tropomyosin mutation, the myofilament lattice geometry is well maintained and therefore may not have any detrimental influence on the contraction mechanisms and thus, on the rate of force generation.

GSK3β Phosphorylates Newly Identified Site in the Proline-Alanine–Rich Region of Cardiac Myosin–Binding Protein C and Alters Cross-Bridge Cycling Kinetics in Human

Rationale: Cardiac myosin–binding protein C (cMyBP-C) regulates cross-bridge cycling kinetics and, thereby, fine-tunes the rate of cardiac muscle contraction and relaxation. Its effects on cardiac kinetics are modified by phosphorylation. Three phosphorylation sites (Ser275, Ser284, and Ser304) have been identified in vivo, all located in the cardiac-specific M-domain of cMyBP-C. However, recent work has shown that up to 4 phosphate groups are present in human cMyBP-C. Objective: To identify and characterize additional phosphorylation sites in human cMyBP-C. Methods and Results: Cardiac MyBP-C was semipurified from human heart tissue. Tandem mass spectrometry analysis identified a novel phosphorylation site on serine 133 in the proline-alanine–rich linker sequence between the C0 and C1 domains of cMyBP-C. Unlike the known sites, Ser133 was not a target of protein kinase A. In silico kinase prediction revealed glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) as the most likely kinase to phosphorylate Ser133. In vitro incubation of the C0C2 fragment of cMyBP-C with GSK3β showed phosphorylation on Ser133. In addition, GSK3β phosphorylated Ser304, although the degree of phosphorylation was less compared with protein kinase A–induced phosphorylation at Ser304. GSK3β treatment of single membrane–permeabilized human cardiomyocytes significantly enhanced the maximal rate of tension redevelopment. Conclusions: GSK3β phosphorylates cMyBP-C on a novel site, which is positioned in the proline-alanine–rich region and increases kinetics of force development, suggesting a noncanonical role for GSK3β at the sarcomere level. Phosphorylation of Ser133 in the linker domain of cMyBP-C may be a novel mechanism to regulate sarcomere kinetics.

Contractile Properties of Human Fetal Skeletal Myofibrils

Congenital contractures such as clubfoot are present in ∼1/250 live births. Several congenital contractures syndromes are caused by mutations in genes that code for skeletal myofilament proteins, including MYH3 and MYH8. Because embryonic (MYH3) and perinatal (MYH8) myosin heavy chains are unique to the prenatal development of muscle, it is important to understand the contractile properties of human embryonic (HE) myosin and human fetal (HF) muscle to determine how mutations affect performance and development. However, information on HF skeletal muscle function is lacking. We previously reported HE myosin crossbridge cycling (measured by in vitro motility) was much slower that rabbit psoas (RP) myosin (Biophys. J. (2010), 98:542a). Here we characterized the contraction and relaxation properties of HF muscle using myofibril mechanics techniques. HF skeletal muscle and myofibrils were isolated from a 15.4 week gestation fetus. During maximal calcium activation (15°C) HF myofibrils produced much lower force (FMAX=5.9±1.2mN/mm2) as compared to myofibrils from human adult (HA) skeletal muscle (84±34mN/mm2) or RP muscle (220±40mN/mm2). Unlike control HA and RP fibrils, no striation pattern was apparent for HF myofibrils, suggesting that immature sarcomeres could explain the lower force production. HF myofibrils had slower kinetics of force development (kACT=0.66±0.1s−1) vs. HA (7.5±6.3s−1) and RP (5.7±0.5s−1) myofibrils. The initial (slow) phase of relaxation upon return to low calcium solution was slower and prolonged (kREL,SLOW=0.59±0.22s−1; tREL,SLOW=174±13ms) vs. HA (2.9±1.7s−1; 71±18ms) or RP (2.1±0.4s−1; 73±14ms) myofibrils. The larger, faster phase of relaxation was also slower (HF=1.5±0.2s−1 vs. HA=12±5s−1 and RP=21±4s−1). Our previous in vitro motility experiments indicated a similar inhibition of filament speed by increasing [ADP] for HE and RP myosin, but this was under low load, thus ongoing experiments will determine if ADP release is responsible for the slower kinetics of HF muscle. Funded by F31AR06300(A.R.), 5K23HD057331(A.B.), HD048895(M.B., M.R.).