scholarly journals Transcriptional regulation of intermolecular Ca2+ signaling in hibernating ground squirrel cardiomyocytes: The myocardin–junctophilin axis

2021 ◽  
Vol 118 (14) ◽  
pp. e2025333118
Author(s):  
Lei Yang ◽  
Rong-Chang Li ◽  
Bin Xiang ◽  
Yi-Chen Li ◽  
Li-Peng Wang ◽  
...  

The contraction of heart cells is controlled by the intermolecular signaling between L-type Ca2+ channels (LCCs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs), and the nanodistance between them depends on the interaction between junctophilin-2 (JPH2) in the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and caveolin-3 (CAV3) in the transversal tubule (TT). In heart failure, decreased expression of JPH2 compromises LCC–RyR communication leading to deficient blood-pumping power. In the present study, we found that JPH2 and CAV3 transcription was concurrently regulated by serum response factor (SRF) and myocardin. In cardiomyocytes from torpid ground squirrels, compared with those from euthermic counterparts, myocardin expression was up-regulated, which boosted both JPH2 and CAV3 expression. Transmission electron microscopic imaging showed that the physical coupling between TTs and SRs was tightened during hibernation and after myocardin overexpression. Confocal Ca2+ imaging under the whole-cell patch clamp condition revealed that these changes enhanced the efficiency of LCC–RyR intermolecular signaling and fully compensated the adaptive down-regulation of LCCs, maintaining the power of heart contraction while avoiding the risk of calcium overload during hibernation. Our finding not only revealed an essential molecular mechanism underlying the survival of hibernating mammals, but also demonstrated a “reverse model of heart failure” at the molecular level, suggesting a strategy for treating heart diseases.

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Xu ◽  
Hao-Di Wu ◽  
Rong-Chang Li ◽  
Su-Fang Li ◽  
Shao-Ting Lai ◽  
...  

The excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling in heart cells governed by L-type Ca 2+ channels (LCCs) in the cell membrane/T-tubules (TTs) and ryanodine receptors (RyRs) in the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (JSR). During heart failure, LCC-RyR signaling became defective, leading to degraded Ca 2+ transients and compromised contractile strength. In the present study, we investigated the structural and molecular mechanisms underlying the compromised LCC-RyR signaling in rat heart failure models produced by transverse aortic constriction surgery. Stereological analysis of transmission electron microscopic images showed that the volume density and the surface area of JSRs and those of JSR-coupled TTs were both decreased in failing heart cells. The TT-JSR junctional structures, known as couplons, were displaced or missing from the Z-line areas. Moreover, the spatial span of individual couplons was markedly reduced in failing heart cells. Knockdown of junctophilin-2 (JP2), a TT-SR linker protein down-regulated in heart failure, fully reproduced the structural deformation and decreased/desynchronized Ca 2+ release, indicating that JP2 down-regulation is at least partially responsible for the structural and functional defects of E-C coupling in heart failure. In searching for upstream regulator of JP2, we found that microRNA-mediated suppression of JP2 expression underlied both TT-SR structural uncoupling and LCC-RyR functional uncoupling. These results revealed molecular and structural mechanisms underlying the defective E-C coupling in failing heart cells, and suggested new therapeutic targets against heart failure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 271 ◽  
pp. 03008
Author(s):  
Yiqiu Zhou

The contraction of the heart is dependent on a process named the excitation-contraction coupling (E-C coupling). In hypertrophy and failing heart models, the expression, phosphorylation and function of key calcium handling proteins involved in E-C coupling are altered. It’s important to figure out the relationship changes between calcium channel activity and calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). This review will therefore focus on novel components of E-C coupling dysfunction in hypertrophy and failing heart, such as L-type Ca2+ channel (LCC), ryanodine receptor type-2 channel (RyR2) and SR Ca ATPase (SERCA), and how these molecular modifications altered excitation-contraction coupling. A lot of literature was well read and sorted. Recent findings in E-C coupling during hypertrophy and heart failure were focused on. Most importantly, the electrophysiological and signal pathway data was carefully analyzed. This review summarizes key principles and highlights novel aspects of E-C coupling changes during hypertrophy and heart failure models. Although LCC activity changed little, the loss of notch in action potential, reduced Ca2+ transient amplitude and desynchronized Ca2+ sparks resulted in a decreased contraction strength in hypertrophy and heart failure models. What’s more, L-type Ca2+ current becomes ineffective in triggering RyR2 Ca2+ release from SR and the SR uptake is reduced in some models. It has great meanings in understanding the E-C coupling changes during different heart diseases. Theses novel changes suggest potential therapeutic approaches for certain types of hypertrophy and heart failure.


Author(s):  
R. A. Waugh ◽  
J. R. Sommer

Cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is a complex system of intracellular tubules that, due to their small size and juxtaposition to such electron-dense structures as mitochondria and myofibrils, are often inconspicuous in conventionally prepared electron microscopic material. This study reports a method with which the SR is selectively “stained” which facilitates visualizationwith the transmission electron microscope.


Author(s):  
Henry S. Slayter

Electron microscopic methods have been applied increasingly during the past fifteen years, to problems in structural molecular biology. Used in conjunction with physical chemical methods and/or Fourier methods of analysis, they constitute powerful tools for determining sizes, shapes and modes of aggregation of biopolymers with molecular weights greater than 50, 000. However, the application of the e.m. to the determination of very fine structure approaching the limit of instrumental resolving power in biological systems has not been productive, due to various difficulties such as the destructive effects of dehydration, damage to the specimen by the electron beam, and lack of adequate and specific contrast. One of the most satisfactory methods for contrasting individual macromolecules involves the deposition of heavy metal vapor upon the specimen. We have investigated this process, and present here what we believe to be the more important considerations for optimizing it. Results of the application of these methods to several biological systems including muscle proteins, fibrinogen, ribosomes and chromatin will be discussed.


Author(s):  
Masahiro Ono ◽  
Kaoru Aihara ◽  
Gompachi Yajima

The pathogenesis of the arteriosclerosis in the acute myocardial infarction is the matter of the extensive survey with the transmission electron microscopy in experimental and clinical materials. In the previous communication,the authors have clarified that the two types of the coronary vascular changes could exist. The first category is the case in which we had failed to observe no occlusive changes of the coronary vessels which eventually form the myocardial infarction. The next category is the case in which occlusive -thrombotic changes are observed in which the myocardial infarction will be taken placed as the final event. The authors incline to designate the former category as the non-occlusive-non thrombotic lesions. The most important findings in both cases are the “mechanical destruction of the vascular wall and imbibition of the serous component” which are most frequently observed at the proximal portion of the coronary main trunk.


Author(s):  
Loren Anderson ◽  
Pat Pizzo ◽  
Glen Haydon

Transmission electron microscopy of replicas has long been used to study the fracture surfaces of components which fail in service. Recently, the scanning electron microscope (SEM) has gained popularity because it allows direct examination of the fracture surface. However, the somewhat lower resolution of the SEM coupled with a restriction on the sample size has served to limit the use of this instrument in investigating in-service failures. It is the intent of this paper to show that scanning electron microscopic examination of conventional negative replicas can be a convenient and reliable technique for determining mode of failure.


Author(s):  
C. N. Gordon

Gordon and Kleinschmidt have described a new preparative technique for visualizing DNA by electron microscopy. This procedure, which is a modification of Hall's “mica substrate technique”, consists of the following steps: (a) K+ ions on the cleavage surface of native mica are exchanged for Al3+ ions by ion exchange. (b) The mica, with Al3+ in the exchange sites on the surface, is placed in a dilute aqueous salt solution of DNA for several minutes; during this period DNA becomes adsorbed on the surface. (c) The mica with adsorbed DNA is removed from the DNA solution, rinsed, dried and visualized for transmission electron microscopy by Hall's platinum pre-shadow replica technique.In previous studies of circular DNA by this technique, most of the molecules seen were either broken to linears or extensively tangled; in general, it was not possible to obtain suitably large samples of open extended molecules for contour length measurements.


Author(s):  
Dr. G. Kaemof

A mixture of polycarbonate (PC) and styrene-acrylonitrile-copolymer (SAN) represents a very good example for the efficiency of electron microscopic investigations concerning the determination of optimum production procedures for high grade product properties.The following parameters have been varied:components of charge (PC : SAN 50 : 50, 60 : 40, 70 : 30), kind of compounding machine (single screw extruder, twin screw extruder, discontinuous kneader), mass-temperature (lowest and highest possible temperature).The transmission electron microscopic investigations (TEM) were carried out on ultra thin sections, the PC-phase of which was selectively etched by triethylamine.The phase transition (matrix to disperse phase) does not occur - as might be expected - at a PC to SAN ratio of 50 : 50, but at a ratio of 65 : 35. Our results show that the matrix is preferably formed by the components with the lower melting viscosity (in this special case SAN), even at concentrations of less than 50 %.


Author(s):  
B. Craig ◽  
L. Hawkey ◽  
A. LeFurgey

Ultra-rapid freezing followed by cryoultramicrotomy is essential for the preservation of diffusible elements in situ within cells prior to scanning transmission electron microscopy and quantitative energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis. For cells or tissue fragments in suspension and for monolayer cell cultures, propane jet freezing provides cooling rates greater than 30,000°C/sec with regions up to 40μm in thickness free of significant ice crystal formation. While this method of freezing has frequently been applied prior to freeze fracture or freeze substitution, it has not been widely utilized prior to cryoultramicrotomy and subsequent x-ray microanalytical studies. This report describes methods devised in our laboratory for cryosectioning of propane jet frozen kidney proximal tubule suspensions and cultured embryonic chick heart cells, in particular a new technique for mounting frozen suspension specimens for sectioning. The techniques utilize the same specimen supports and sample holders as those used for freeze fracture and freeze substitution and should be generally applicable to any cell suspension or culture preparation.


Author(s):  
Veronika Burmeister ◽  
R. Swaminathan

Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) is a disorder of porphyrin metabolism which occurs most often during middle age. The disease is characterized by excessive production of uroporphyrin which causes photosensitivity and skin eruptions on hands and arms, due to minor trauma and exposure to sunlight. The pathology of the blister is well known, being subepidermal with epidermodermal separation, it is not always absolutely clear, whether the basal lamina is attached to the epidermis or the dermis. The purpose of our investigation was to study the attachment of the basement membrane in the blister by comparing scanning with transmission electron microscopy.


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