Regulatory Domain Of Cardiac Troponin Research Articles

Investigating mutant hydrophobic patch exposure in troponin C using molecular dynamics-based free energy methods.

Contraction of cardiomyocytes is orchestrated through calcium-binding to the N-terminal regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C (NcTnC). This binding event initiates a series of dynamic and conformational changes that expose a hydrophobic patch to which troponin I (TnI) associates. Cardiomyopathies have been linked to mutations in NcTnC that disrupt these precise interactions and modulate free energy of opening. Mutations that lower the free energy of opening have a calcium-sensitizing effect and those that increase free energy of opening have a calcium-desensitizing effect, like mutations implicated with hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), respectively. Albeit mutations occurring in the loop region of NcTnC have been most extensively studied, information regarding mutations within the hydrophobic patch is lacking. Simulating the closed-to-open transition in NcTnC is challenging and typically requires microsecond timescales just to observe partial opening of the patch. Here, we use targeted molecular dynamics (TMD) to efficiently sample the landscape between the open and closed conformations. Umbrella sampling (US) was employed to predict the free energy of opening by using frames sourced from TMD, and preliminary data corroborates the expected trends for known HCM and DCM mutations in NcTnC. RosettaDesign was used to prepare and score novel mutation candidates by systematically mutating residues at eight different positions in the patch to almost every other amino acid. Based on the ref15_cart scoring function, up to three mutation candidates from each position were selected to proceed to further evaluation with US. In this work, we identify several mutations that are expected to perturb patch opening and present an innovative approach to quantitatively study the influence hydrophobic patch residues play in the molecular basis of myocyte contraction.

Drugging the Sarcomere, a Delicate Balance: Position of N-Terminal Charge of the Inhibitor W7.

W7 is a sarcomere inhibitor that decreases the calcium sensitivity of force development in cardiac muscle. W7 binds to the interface of the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C (cNTnC) and the switch region of troponin I (cTnI), decreasing the binding of cTnI to cNTnC, presumably by electrostatic repulsion between the -NH3+ group of W7 and basic amino acids in cTnI. W7 analogs with a -CO2- tail are inactive. To evaluate the importance of the location of the charged -NH3+, we used a series of compounds W4, W6, W8, and W9, which have three less, one less, one more, and two more methylene groups in the tail region than W7. W6, W8, and W9 all bind tighter to cNTnC-cTnI chimera (cChimera) than W7, while W4 binds weaker. W4 and, strikingly, W6 have no effect on calcium sensitivity of force generation, while W8 and W9 decrease calcium sensitivity, but less than W7. The structures of the cChimera-W6 and cChimera-W8 complexes reveal that W6 and W8 bind to the same hydrophobic cleft as W7, with the aliphatic tail taking a similar route to the surface. NMR relaxation data show that internal flexibility in the tail of W7 is very limited. Alignment of the cChimera-W7 structure with the recent cryoEM structures of the cardiac sarcomere in the diastolic and systolic states reveals the critical location of the amino group. Small molecule induced structural changes can therefore affect the tightly balanced equilibrium between tethered components required for rapid contraction.

Emergence of the N-Terminal Regulatory Domain of Cardiac Troponin I for Living on Land and the Function of Adult Heart of Higher Vertebrates

The troponin complex plays a central role in regulating the contraction and relaxation of striated muscles. Troponin-based thin filament regulation of muscle contraction emerged approximately 700 million years ago with largely conserved functions. Troponin I (TnI) is the inhibitory subunit of troponin and has evolved into three muscle type-specific isoforms in vertebrates. Cardiac TnI has an N-terminal extension that is specifically expressed in the adult heart, implicating a unique selection value. Cardiac TnI of higher vertebrate species contains beta-adrenergic regulated PKA phosphorylation sites in the N-terminal extension, which is a mechanism to enhance cardiac muscle relaxation and facilitate ventricular filling. Our data mining showed that the N-terminal extension of cardiac TnI first emerged in the genomes of early tetrapods as well as primordial lobe-finned fishes such as the coelacanth whereas it is absent in ray-finned fish. An intriguing finding is the lack of a transitional species that has an N-terminal extension in cardiac TnI without the PKA phosphorylation sites. This apparently rapid evolution of the beta-adrenergic regulation of cardiac function suggests a high selection value in the cardiac function of vertebrate animals on land. To understand the evolution and original function of the N-terminal extension in modulating cardiac muscle contractility, our study comparing the cardiac muscle of primitive lobe-finned fish with that of mammals and ray-finned fish investigates its role in cardiac adaptation to the increased energetic demands of life on land and significance in human health and the treatment of heart failure.

Thioimidate Bond Formation between Cardiac Troponin C and Nitrile-containing Compounds.

We have investigated the mechanism and reactivity of covalent bond formation between cysteine-84 of the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C and compounds containing a nitrile moiety similar to the calcium sensitizer levosimendan. The results of modifications to the levosimendan framework ranged from a large increase in covalent bond formation to complete inactivity. We present the biological activity of one of the most potent compounds. Limitations, including compound solubility and degradation at acidic pH, have prevented thorough investigation of the potential of these compounds. Our studies reveal the efficacious nature of the malononitrile moiety in targeting cNTnC and its potential in future cardiotonic drug design.

In Vitro and in Situ Structure and Function of the Cardiac Troponin C Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy-Linked Mutation, L29Q

Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (FHC) is characterized by severe abnormal cardiac muscle growth. The traditional view is that mutations associated with FHC result in an increase in Ca2+-sensitivity of cardiac muscle contraction; however, recent studies indicate that their pathogenesis may stem from a diminished response to troponin I phosphorylation. The mutation L29Q, found in the Ca2+-sensitive muscle regulatory protein, troponin C, has been tenuously linked to cardiac hypertrophy. L29Q is in the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C's defunct Ca2+-binding site (site 1). In this study, we combined in vitro and in situ structural and functional techniques to elucidate the role this mutation may play in the modulation of troponin's function. We used Nuclear Magnetic Resonance to solve the structure and characterize the backbone dynamics of the regulatory lobe of troponin C with this mutation. The overall structure and dynamics of troponin C was not significantly altered by L29Q; however there was a slight rearrangement of site 1 making it more similar to trout cardiac troponin C, which also has a glutamine at position at residue 29 and displays increased Ca2+ sensitivity. Backbone dynamics measurements indicated that Q29 was more flexible than L29. The structure and function of L29Q was also assessed in demembranated ventricular trabeculae using Fluorescence for In Situ Structure. The structure and/or orientation of the regulatory lobe of troponin C was slightly perturbed by L29Q in relaxing conditions and was unaffected at activating Ca2+ concentrations. The Ca2+ sensitivity of the structural change and contractility were both unaltered by the L29Q mutation, suggesting that while this may cause a small change in the structure of troponin C, this does not translate to a large functional effect in cardiac muscle.

Interaction between the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C and the acidosis-resistant cardiac troponin I A162H

Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Acidosis is the main mediator of ischaemia and shielding against it might be possible. In this study, we characterize the nature of interaction between the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C and the A162H-substituted cardiac troponin I (cTnI) that confers protection against acidosis. We used nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study the interaction of the Ca(2+)-saturated N-domain of cardiac troponin C with the switch region of cTnI containing the A162H substitution under normal and acidic conditions. Our results show that H162 increases the affinity of TnI for troponin C at pH 7 and this affinity is further enhanced at pH 6. To investigate the nature of the interactions responsible for such improvement, we determined the acid dissociation constants of the glutamate residues in troponin C. The results show that E15 and E19 exhibit deviations in their acid dissociation constant (pK(a)) profiles and reflect a common high pK(a) value of 6.8, indicating electrostatic interactions with H162. Residue H171 in wild-type cTnI does not play a similar role. This work provides evidence for the mechanism by which cTnI A162H improves myocardial performance during acidosis. The electrostatic interaction between residues E15 and E19 in troponin C and H162 in TnI at low pH is responsible for stabilizing the conformation of troponin C that leads to contraction, thus partially ablating the decreased Ca(2+)-sensitivity caused by acidosis.

Structural and Functional Consequences of the Cardiac Troponin C L48Q Ca2+-Sensitizing Mutation

Calcium binding to the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C (cNTnC) causes a conformational change that exposes a hydrophobic surface to which troponin I (cTnI) binds, prompting a series of protein-protein interactions that culminate in muscle contraction. A number of cTnC variants that alter the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the thin filament have been linked to disease. Tikunova and Davis engineered a series of cNTnC mutations that altered Ca(2+) binding properties and studied the effects on the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the thin filament and contraction [Tikunova, S. B., and Davis, J. P. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 35341-35352]. One of the mutations they engineered, the L48Q variant, resulted in a pronounced increase in the cNTnC Ca(2+) binding affinity and Ca(2+) sensitivity of cardiac muscle force development. In this work, we sought structural and mechanistic explanations for the increased Ca(2+) sensitivity of contraction for the L48Q cNTnC variant, using an array of biophysical techniques. We found that the L48Q mutation enhanced binding of both Ca(2+) and cTnI to cTnC. Nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift and relaxation data provided evidence that the cNTnC hydrophobic core is more exposed with the L48Q variant. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the mutation disrupts a network of crucial hydrophobic interactions so that the closed form of cNTnC is destabilized. The findings emphasize the importance of cNTnC's conformation in the regulation of contraction and suggest that mutations in cNTnC that alter myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity can do so by modulating Ca(2+) and cTnI binding.

Tryptophan side chain conformers monitored by NMR and time‐resolved fluorescence spectroscopies

We have inserted a tryptophan (F77W) in the core of the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C (cNTnC), and previously determined the structure of this mutant with and without the cosolvent trifluoroethanol (TFE). Interestingly, the orientations of the indole side chain of the Trp are in opposite directions in the two structures (Julien et al., Protein Sci 2009; 18:1165-1174). Fluorescence decay experiments for single Trp-containing proteins often show several lifetimes, which have been interpreted as reflecting conformational heterogeneity of the Trp side chain resulting from different rotamers. To test this interpretation, we monitored the effect of TFE on wild type, F77W and F77W-V82A calcium-saturated cNTnC using 2D (13)C-HSQC NMR and time-correlated single photon counting fluorescence spectroscopies. The time dependence of the Trp fluorescence decay was fit with three lifetimes. Addition of TFE caused a gradual, but limited decrease of the lifetimes due to dynamic quenching. For F77W cNTnC, the amplitude fractions of the lifetimes also changed upon addition of TFE-the long lifetime increased from 13 to 29%, while the middle lifetime decreased from 63 to 50% and the short lifetime remained relatively unchanged. For F77W-V82A cNTnC, comparable NMR changes are observed, confirming the switch in rotamer conformation, but only much smaller changes in fluorescence decay parameters were detected. These data indicate that the balance between the rotamer states can be changed without changing the lifetime amplitude fractions appreciably, and suggest that the environment(s) of the indole ring, responsible for the different lifetimes, can result from factors other than the intrinsic rotamer state of the tryptophan.

Crystal Structure of Cardiac Troponin C Regulatory Domain in Complex with Cadmium and Deoxycholic Acid Reveals Novel Conformation

The amino-terminal regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C (cNTnC) plays an important role as the calcium sensor for the troponin complex. Calcium binding to cNTnC results in conformational changes that trigger a cascade of events that lead to cardiac muscle contraction. The cardiac N-terminal domain of TnC consists of two EF-hand calcium binding motifs, one of which is dysfunctional in binding calcium. Nevertheless, the defunct EF-hand still maintains a role in cNTnC function. For its structural analysis by X-ray crystallography, human cNTnC with the wild-type primary sequence was crystallized under a novel crystallization condition. The crystal structure was solved by the single-wavelength anomalous dispersion method and refined to 2.2 Å resolution. The structure displays several novel features. Firstly, both EF-hand motifs coordinate cadmium ions derived from the crystallization milieu. Secondly, the ion coordination in the defunct EF-hand motif accompanies unusual changes in the protein conformation. Thirdly, deoxycholic acid, also derived from the crystallization milieu, is bound in the central hydrophobic cavity. This is reminiscent of the interactions observed for cardiac calcium sensitizer drugs that bind to the same core region and maintain the “open” conformational state of calcium-bound cNTnC. The cadmium ion coordination in the defunct EF-hand indicates that this vestigial calcium binding site retains the structural and functional elements that allow it to coordinate a cadmium ion. However, it is a result of, or concomitant with, large and unusual structural changes in cNTnC.

Solution structure of the regulatory domain of human cardiac troponin C in complex with the switch region of cardiac troponin I and W7: The basis of W7 as an inhibitor of cardiac muscle contraction

The solution structure of Ca2+-bound regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C (cNTnC) in complex with the switch region of troponin I (cTnI147–163) and the calmodulin antagonist, N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfinamide (W7), has been determined by NMR spectroscopy. The structure reveals that the W7 naphthalene ring interacts with the terminal methyl groups of M47, M60, and M81 as well as aliphatic and aromatic side chains of several other residues in the hydrophobic pocket of cNTnC. The H3 ring proton of W7 also contacts the methyl groups of I148 and M153 of cTnI147–163. The N-(6-aminohexyl) tail interacts primarily with the methyl groups of V64 and M81, which are located on the C- and D-helices of cNTnC. Compared to the structure of the cNTnC•Ca2+•W7 complex (Hoffman, R. M. B. and Sykes, B. D. (2009) Biochemistry 48, 5541–5552), the tail of W7 reorients slightly toward the surface of cNTnC while the ring remains in the hydrophobic pocket. The positively charged –NH3+ group from the tail of W7 repels the positively charged R147 of cTnI147–163. As a result, the N-terminus of the peptide moves away from cNTnC and the helical content of cTnI147–163 is diminished, when compared to the structure of cNTnC•Ca2+•cTnI147–163 (Li, M. X., Spyracopoulos, L., and Sykes B. D. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 8289–8298). Thus the ternary structure cNTnC•Ca2+•W7•cTnI147–163 reported in this study offers an explanation for the ∼13-fold affinity reduction of cTnI147–163 for cNTnC•Ca2+ in the presence of W7 and provides a structural basis for the inhibitory effect of W7 in cardiac muscle contraction. This generates molecular insight into structural features that are useful for the design of cTnC-specific Ca2+-desensitizing drugs.

Structure of the Inhibitor W7 Bound to the Regulatory Domain of Cardiac Troponin C

The calmodulin antagonist W7 binds to troponin C in the presence of Ca2+ and inhibits striated muscle contraction. This study integrates multiple data into the structure of the regulatory domain of human cardiac troponin C (cNTnC) bound to Ca2+ and W7. The protein−W7 interface is defined through a three-dimensional {1H,13C}-edited-{1H,12C}-detected NOESY NMR experiment, and other aspects of the structure are modeled as perturbations to previously known coordinates and restraints. The structure determination protocol optimizes the protein−W7 contacts prior to the introduction of protein−W7 steric interactions or conformational changes in the protein. The structure determination protocol gives families of conformers that all have an optimal docking as assessed by satisfaction of the target function. The structure supports the previously proposed troponin I blocking mechanism for the activity of W7 in striated muscle and suggests a role for the flexible tail of W7 in stabilization of the bound state. This clarifies the structure−activity relationships of W7 and implicates an electrostatically mediated component of activity in common analogues of W7, including the antipsychotic trifluoroperazine and the cardiotonic levosimendan.

A New Amide Proton R1ρ Experiment Permits Accurate Characterization of Microsecond Time-scale Conformational Exchange

A new off-resonance spin-lock experiment to record relaxation dispersion profiles of amide protons is presented. The sensitivity-enhanced HSQC-type sequence is designed to minimize the interference from cross-relaxation effects and ensure that the dispersion profiles in the absence of micros-ms time-scale dynamics are flat. Toward this end (i) the proton background is eliminated by sample deuteration (Ishima et al., 1998), (ii) 1H spin lock is applied to two-spin modes 2(H(x)Sin theta + H(z)Cos theta) N(z), and (iii) the tilt angle theta approximately 35 degrees is maintained throughout the series of measurements (Desvaux et al. Mol. Phys., 86 (1995) 1059). The relaxation dispersion profiles recorded in this manner sample a wide range of effective rf field strengths (up to and in excess of 20 kHz) which makes them particularly suitable for studies of motions on the time scale < or = 100 micros. The new experiment has been tested on the Ca2+-loaded regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C. Many residues show pronounced dispersions with remarkably similar correlation times of approximately 30 micros. Furthermore, these residues are localized in the regions that have been previously implicated in conformational changes (Spyracopoulos et al. Biochemistry, 36 (1997) 12138).

Designing Calcium-sensitizing Mutations in the Regulatory Domain of Cardiac Troponin C

Cardiac troponin C belongs to the EF-hand superfamily of calcium-binding proteins and plays an essential role in the regulation of muscle contraction and relaxation. To follow calcium binding and exchange with the regulatory N-terminal domain (N-domain) of human cardiac troponin C, we substituted Phe at position 27 with Trp, making a fluorescent cardiac troponin C(F27W). Trp(27) accurately reported the kinetics of calcium association and dissociation of the N-domain of cardiac troponin C(F27W). To sensitize the N-domain of cardiac troponin C(F27W) to calcium, we individually substituted the hydrophobic residues Phe(20), Val(44), Met(45), Leu(48), and Met(81) with polar Gln. These mutations were designed to increase the calcium affinity of the N-domain of cardiac troponin C by facilitating the movement of helices B and C (BC unit) away from helices N, A, and D (NAD unit). As anticipated, these selected hydrophobic residue substitutions increased the calcium affinity of the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C(F27W) approximately 2.1-15.2-fold. Surprisingly, the increased calcium affinity caused by the hydrophobic residue substitutions was largely due to faster calcium association rates (2.6-8.7-fold faster) rather than to slower calcium dissociation rates (1.2-2.9-fold slower). The regulatory N-domains of cardiac troponin C(F27W) and its mutants were also able to bind magnesium competitively and with physiologically relevant affinities (1.2-2.7 mm). The design of calcium-sensitizing cardiac troponin C mutants presented in this work enhances the understanding of how to control cation binding properties of EF-hand proteins and ultimately their structure and physiological function.

Regulatory Domain Conformational Exchange and Linker Region Flexibility in Cardiac Troponin C Bound to Cardiac Troponin I

Previously, we utilized (15)N transverse relaxation rates to demonstrate significant mobility in the linker region and conformational exchange in the regulatory domain of Ca(2+)-saturated cardiac troponin C bound to the isolated N-domain of cardiac troponin I (Gaponenko, V., Abusamhadneh, E., Abbott, M. B., Finley, N., Gasmi-Seabrook, G., Solaro, R.J., Rance, M., and Rosevear, P.R. (1999) J. Biol. Chem. 274, 16681-16684). Here we show a large decrease in cardiac troponin C linker flexibility, corresponding to residues 85-93, when bound to intact cardiac troponin I. The addition of 2 m urea to the intact cardiac troponin I-troponin C complex significantly increased linker flexibility. Conformational changes in the regulatory domain of cardiac troponin C were monitored in complexes with troponin I-(1-211), troponin I-(33-211), troponin I-(1-80) and bisphosphorylated troponin I-(1-80). The cardiac specific N terminus, residues 1-32, and the C-domain, residues 81-211, of troponin I are both capable of inducing conformational changes in the troponin C regulatory domain. Phosphorylation of the cardiac specific N terminus reversed its effects on the regulatory domain. These studies provide the first evidence that the cardiac specific N terminus can modulate the function of troponin C by altering the conformational equilibrium of the regulatory domain.