Myosin heavy chain gene expression in neonatal rat heart cells: effects of [Ca2+]i and contractile activity

1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (2) ◽  
pp. C394-C403 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Qi ◽  
J. L. Puglisi ◽  
K. L. Byron ◽  
K. Ojamaa ◽  
I. Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Heart Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Mechanical Signals

To determine if mechanical signals or alterations in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) affect myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene expression in spontaneously beating, neonatal rat ventricular myocytes, contractile activity was inhibited with verapamil, KCl, or 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), and their acute and chronic effects on myocyte shortening, [Ca2+]i, and MHC gene expression were examined. Despite their differing effects on [Ca2+]i, verapamil, KCl, and BDM all inhibited contractile activity and markedly downregulated beta-MHC mRNA levels to 24 +/- 5, 21 +/- 7, and 6 +/- 2% of contracting cells, respectively. In contrast, these inhibitors of contraction upregulated alpha-MHC mRNA levels to 163 +/- 19, 156 +/- 7, and 198 +/- 20% of contracting cells, respectively. Transient transfection with a rat beta-MHC promoter-luciferase expression plasmid demonstrated that all inhibitors of contraction significantly decreased beta-MHC promoter activity. Paradoxically, contractile arrest also inhibited alpha-MHC promoter activity, suggesting that increased alpha-MHC mRNA levels resulted from posttranscriptional mechanisms. Actinomycin D mRNA stability assays indicated that alpha-MHC mRNA half-life was prolonged in noncontracting cells (33 h) compared with contracting myocytes (14 h). Contraction-dependent alterations in MHC gene expression were not dependent on release of angiotensin II or other growth factors into the culture medium. Thus intrinsic mechanical signals rather than alterations in [Ca2+]i regulate alpha-MHC and beta-MHC gene expression by both transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms.

Myosin heavy chain turnover in cultured neonatal rat heart cells: effects of [Ca2+]i and contractile activity

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (5) ◽  
pp. C1447-C1456 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. Byron ◽  
J. L. Puglisi ◽  
J. R. Holda ◽  
D. Eble ◽  
A. M. Samarel
Keyword(s):  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Protein Turnover ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Myofibrillar Protein ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Heart Cells ◽  
Cell Shortening ◽  
Rat Heart Cells

Blockade of L-type Ca2+ channels in spontaneously contracting cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes causes contractile arrest, myofibrillar disassembly, and accelerated myofibrillar protein turnover. To determine whether myofibrillar protein turnover. To determine whether myofibrillar atrophy results indirectly from loss of mechanical signals or directly from alterations in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i), contractile activity was inhibited with verapamil (10 microM) or 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), and their effects on cell shortening, [Ca2+]i, and myosin heavy chain (MHC) turnover were assessed. Control cells demonstrated spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients (peak amplitude 232 +/- 15 nM, 1-2 Hz) and vigorous contractile activity. Verapamil inhibited shortening by eliminating spontaneous [Ca2+]i transients. Low concentrations of BDM (5.0-7.5 mM) had no effect on basal or peak [Ca2+]i transient amplitude but reduced cell shortening, whereas 10 mM BDM reduced both [Ca2+]i transient amplitude and shortening. Both agents inhibited MHC synthesis, but only verapamil accelerated MHC degradation. Thus MHC half-life does not change in parallel with contractile activity but rather more closely follows changes in [Ca2+]i. [Ca2+]i transients appear critical in maintaining myofibrillar assembly and preventing accelerated MHC proteolysis.

Regulation of rat ventricular myosin heavy chain expression by serum and contractile activity

1994 ◽  
Vol 267 (2) ◽  
pp. C520-C528 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Qi ◽  
K. Ojamaa ◽  
E. G. Eleftheriades ◽  
I. Klein ◽  
A. M. Samarel
Keyword(s):  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Growth Medium ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Cellular Growth ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Serum Free ◽  
Serum Stimulation

To quantitatively analyze the effects of serum stimulation and contractile activity and their interaction on cellular growth and cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene expression, spontaneously contracting neonatal rat ventricular myocytes in primary culture were maintained in serum-free growth medium or growth medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum. Contractile activity in paired cultures was inhibited by addition of the calcium channel blocker verapamil (10 microM) to the culture medium. Both serum stimulation and contractile activity produced myocyte hypertrophy as assessed by increases in total protein, total RNA, protein-to-DNA ratios, and total MHC protein content. MHC isoenzyme analysis indicated that both MHC-alpha and MHC-beta proteins accumulated in response to serum stimulation and/or contractile activity. The increases in MHC-beta protein resulting from serum stimulation and contractile activity occurred in parallel with increases in MHC-beta mRNA. In contrast, MHC-alpha mRNA levels were relatively unaffected by serum stimulation but appeared to decrease in response to contractile activity. The protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (5 nM) reduced MHC-beta expression in serum-free, contracting cultures and also prevented the serum-induced increase in MHC-beta mRNA observed in both contracting and arrested myocytes. Staurosporine also increased MHC-alpha mRNA levels in serum-free, contracting, and verapamil-arrested myocytes. These data suggest that both humoral and mechanical factors regulate MHC isoenzyme expression and cellular growth in neonatal ventricular myocytes.

Mechanical activity in heart regulates translation of α-myosin heavy chain mRNA but not its localization

1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (6) ◽  
pp. H2013-H2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordana Nikcevic ◽  
Maria C. Heidkamp ◽  
Merja Perhonen ◽  
Brenda Russell
Keyword(s):  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Mrna Translation ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Mechanical Activity ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Rat Cardiomyocytes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Polysomal Fraction ◽  
Mechanical Transduction

Mechanical inactivity depresses protein expression in cardiac muscle tissue and results in atrophy. We explore the mechanical transduction mechanism in spontaneously beating neonatal rat cardiomyocytes expressing the α-myosin heavy chain (α-MyHC) isoform by interfering with cross-bridge function [2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM), 7.5 mM] without affecting cell calcium. The polysome content and α-MyHC mRNA levels in fractions from a sucrose gradient were analyzed. BDM treatment blocked translation at initiation (162 ± 12% in the nonpolysomal RNA fraction and 43 ± 6% in the polysomal fraction, relative to control as 100%; P < 0.05). There was an increase in α-MyHC mRNA from the nonpolysomal fraction (120.5 ± 7.7%; P < 0.05 compared with control) with no significant change in the heavy polysomes. In situ hybridization of α-MyHC mRNA was used to estimate message abundance as a function of the distance from the nucleus. The mRNA was dispersed through the cytoplasm in spontaneously beating cells as well as in BDM-treated cells (no significant difference). We conclude that direct inhibition of contractile machinery, but not calcium, regulates initiation of α-MyHC mRNA translation. However, calcium, not pure mechanical signals, appears to be important for message localization.

Expression of the atrial-specific myosin heavy chain AMHC1 and the establishment of anteroposterior polarity in the developing chicken heart

Development ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 120 (4) ◽  
pp. 871-883 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.E. Yutzey ◽  
J.T. Rhee ◽  
D. Bader
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Retinoic Acid ◽  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Cardiac Myocyte ◽  
Anterior Segment ◽  
Heart Cells ◽  
Heart Tube ◽  
Expression Domain ◽  
Chicken Heart

A unique myosin heavy chain cDNA (AMHC1), which is expressed exclusively in the atria of the developing chicken heart, was isolated and used to study the generation of diversified cardiac myocyte cell lineages. The pattern of AMHC1 gene expression during heart formation was determined by whole-mount in situ hybridization. AMHC1 is first activated in the posterior segment of the heart when these myocytes initially differentiate (Hamburger and Hamilton stage 9+). The anterior segment of the heart at this stage does not express AMHC1 although the ventricular myosin heavy chain isoform is strongly expressed beginning at stage 8+. Throughout chicken development, AMHC1 continues to be expressed in the posterior heart tube as it develops into the diversified atria. The early activation of AMHC1 expression in the posterior cardiac myocytes suggests that the heart cells are diversified when they differentiate initially and that the anterior heart progenitors differ from the posterior heart progenitors in their myosin isoform gene expression. The expression domain of AMHC1 can be expanded anteriorly within the heart tube by treating embryos with retinoic acid as the heart primordia fuse. Embryos treated with retinoic acid prior to the initiation of fusion of the heart primordia express AMHC1 throughout the entire heart-forming region and fusion of the heart primordia is inhibited. These data indicate that retinoic acid treatment produces an expansion of the posterior (atrial) domain of the heart and suggests that diversified fates of cardiomyogenic progenitors can be altered.

Contractile arrest accelerates myosin heavy chain degradation in neonatal rat heart cells

1992 ◽  
Vol 263 (3) ◽  
pp. C642-C652 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Samarel ◽  
M. L. Spragia ◽  
V. Maloney ◽  
S. A. Kamal ◽  
G. L. Engelmann
Keyword(s):  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Mechanical Activity ◽  
Mechanical Forces ◽  
Channel Blockade ◽  
Rate Limiting Step ◽  
Limiting Step ◽  
Rate Limiting

Mechanical forces influence the growth and metabolism of a variety of cells, including cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. To determine whether mechanical activity affected the synthesis and turnover of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in these striated muscle cells, MHC fractional degradative rates were measured in spontaneously beating cells and in arrested myocytes in which contractile activity was prevented by L-channel blockade (with verapamil, nifedipine, nisoldipine, and diltiazem) or K+ depolarization. MHC degradative rates were measured as the difference between rates of MHC synthesis and accumulation and in pulse-chase biosynthetic labeling experiments. Both methods indicated that contractile arrest markedly increased MHC degradation. Contractile arrest produced by L-channel blockade accelerated MHC degradation to a greater extent than K+ depolarization. The signal transduction pathway linking contractile activity to alterations in MHC degradation did not involve protein kinase C (PKC), because MHC degradation was unaffected by activating PKC in arrested cells or inhibiting PKC in spontaneously beating cells. Chloroquine and E-64 did not suppress the accelerated MHC degradation, suggesting that the rate-limiting step in MHC turnover occurred before degradative processing by cellular proteinases. Using a computer simulation, we hypothesize that the rate-limiting step in MHC turnover preceded (or was coincident with) MHC release from thick filaments. Thus mechanical forces may influence MHC half-life by regulating the rate of myosin disassembly.

Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate alters SR Ca(2+)-ATPase gene expression in cultured neonatal rat heart cells

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (3) ◽  
pp. H1031-H1039 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Qi ◽  
J. W. Bassani ◽  
D. M. Bers ◽  
A. M. Samarel
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Sarcoplasmic Reticulum ◽  
Mrna Stability ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Similar Degree ◽  
Heart Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Atpase Gene

Primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes were used to examine how the cardiac myocyte cytoplasmic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) transient and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA2) gene expression change in response to treatment with the protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Exposure of neonatal myocytes to PMA (200 nM, 48-72 h) produced myocyte growth and a 70% prolongation of the half-time for [Ca2+]i decline induced by potassium depolarization in the absence of extracellular Na+ (in which the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump is the main mechanism responsible for [Ca2+]i decline). The reduced rate of [Ca2+]i transient decline corresponded to a 53% reduction in SERCA2 protein levels and a 43% reduction in SERCA2 mRNA levels as compared with control myocytes. Exposure to PMA for as little as 30 min or for as long as 48 h produced a similar degree of SERCA2 mRNA downregulation over time. PMA-induced downregulation of SERCA2 mRNA levels was blocked by either 10 nM staurosporine or 4 microM chelerythrine, whereas treatment with either agent alone increased SERCA2 mRNA levels as compared with control cells. Actinomycin D mRNA stability assays revealed that PMA treatment appeared to markedly destabilize the relatively long-lived SERCA2 mRNA transcript. Taken together, these results indicate that downregulation of SERCA2 gene by PMA in cultured neonatal myocytes occurs at least in part by alterations in mRNA stability and results in functional alterations in [Ca2+]i decline that are similar to that observed in the hypertrophied and failing adult myocardium.

Role of USF1 phosphorylation on cardiac α-myosin heavy chain promoter activity

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. H213-H219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qianxun Xiao ◽  
Agnes Kenessey ◽  
Kaie Ojamaa
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Molecular Mechanism ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Promoter Activity ◽  
Cardiac Myocyte ◽  
Contractile Function ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Two Dimensional Gel Electrophoresis

Contractile activity of the cardiac myocyte is required for maintaining cell mass and phenotype, including expression of the cardiac-specific α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) gene. An E-box hemodynamic response element (HME) located at position −47 within the α-MHC promoter is both necessary and sufficient to confer contractile responsiveness to the gene and has been shown to bind upstream stimulatory factor-1 (USF1). When studied in spontaneously contracting cardiac myocytes, there is enhanced binding of USF1 to the HME compared with quiescent cells, which correlates with a threefold increase in α-MHC promoter activity. A molecular mechanism by which contractile function modulates α-MHC transcriptional activity may involve signaling via phosphorylation of USF1. The present studies showed that purified rat USF1 was phosphorylated in vitro by protein kinase C (PKC) and cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) but not casein kinase II. Phosphorylated USF1 by either PKC or PKA had increased DNA binding activity to the HME. PKC-mediated phosphorylation also leads to the formation of USF1 multimers as assessed by gel shift assay. Analysis of in vivo phosphorylated nuclear proteins from cultured ventricular myocytes showed that USF1 was phosphorylated, and resolution by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis identified at least two distinct phosphorylated USF1 molecules. These results suggest that endogenous kinases can covalently modify USF1 and provide a potential molecular mechanism by which the contractile stimulus mediates changes in myocyte gene transcription.

Endothelin ETA receptor regulates signaling and ANF gene expression via multiple G protein-linked pathways

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (1) ◽  
pp. H130-H137 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Hilal-Dandan ◽  
M. T. Ramirez ◽  
S. Villegas ◽  
A. Gonzalez ◽  
Y. Endo-Mochizuki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Adenylyl Cyclase ◽  
Hormonal Regulation ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Neonatal Rat ◽  
Luciferase Reporter ◽  
Luciferase Expression ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Eta Receptor

We have characterized the interaction of endothelin (ET) with cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Binding studies indicate a single population of ETA receptors [53,000 sites/cell, apparent dissociation constant (Kd) for ET-1 approximately 0.07 nM]. Analysis of mRNA levels for ET receptors using 35 cycles of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrates the presence of only ETA-receptor message. Studies with ET-1 and a variety of congeners and antagonists indicate that ETA receptors couple to both the stimulation of phosphoinositide turnover and the inhibition of adenylyl cyclase. In myocytes transfected with an atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) promoter linked to a luciferase reporter gene, ET-1 stimulates luciferase expression through an ETA receptor. These data indicate that the ETA receptor is the exclusive receptor on neonatal ventricular myocytes and that this receptor couples to both phosphoinositide hydrolysis and adenylyl cyclase. ET-1 also induces a threefold increase in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, an effect that is not sensitive to pertussis toxin (PTx). By contrast, ET-stimulated ANF-luciferase expression is partially inhibited by treatment of cells with PTx, suggesting that both PTx-sensitive (Gi) and PTx-insensitive (Gq) pathways mediate the effects of ET-1 on ANF gene expression in neonatal myocytes and that hormonal regulation of ANF expression may utilize pathways in addition to the activation of MAPK.

Localization of cardiac (alpha)-myosin heavy chain mRNA is regulated by its 3′ untranslated region via mechanical activity and translational block

1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (23) ◽  
pp. 2969-2978 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Goldspink ◽  
W. Sharp ◽  
B. Russell
Keyword(s):  
Myosin Heavy Chain ◽  
Cardiac Myocytes ◽  
Heavy Chain ◽  
Untranslated Region ◽  
Contractile Activity ◽  
Intracellular Localization ◽  
Mechanical Activity ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Coding Region ◽  
Reporter Protein

We have altered the spontaneous contractile activity of neonatal cardiac myocytes in culture to investigate the re-lationship between mechanical forces, myofibril assembly, and the localization and translation of (alpha)-myosin heavy chain mRNA. Immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization techniques revealed that contracting myocytes display well aligned myofibrils and a diffuse distribution of (alpha)-myosin heavy chain mRNA. Inhibition of contractile activity with the calcium channel blocker verapamil (10 microM) resulted in myofibril disassembly and a perinuclear mRNA distribution within six hours. There was a significant decrease (P&lt;0. 05) of mRNA levels, 5 to 15 micron away from the nucleus following 6 hours of verapamil treatment compared with control cells. Inhibition of protein synthesis with cycloheximide (10 microM) also resulted in perinuclear mRNA localization despite having little effect on contractile activity or myofibril assembly. To determine if the 3′ untranslated region of (alpha)-myosin heavy chain mRNA was sufficient for localizing the entire message, a chimeric construct composed of beta-galactosidase coding region followed by (alpha)-myosin heavy chain 3′ untranslated region sequences was made as a reporter plasmid and transfected into cultured myocytes. A perinuclear accumulation of ss-galactosidase was exhibited in many of the contractile arrested cells (48.3+/−2.4%, n=7). In contrast, significantly fewer (P&lt;0.05) contracting control (29.1+/−3.3%, n=7) and strongly contracting, isoproterenol-treated cells (27.2+/−6.1%, n=3) exhibited a perinuclear localization of protein. The distribution of the reporter protein was not affected by the contractile state in cells transfected with a constitutively translated 3′UTR. We propose that mechanical activity of neonatal cardiac myocytes regulates the intracellular localization of alpha-myosin heavy chain mRNA via the 3′ untranslated region mediated by an initial block in translation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document