scholarly journals Integration of Cardiac Actin Mutants Causing Hypertrophic (p.A295S) and Dilated Cardiomyopathy (p.R312H and p.E361G) into Cellular Structures

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1082
Author(s):  
Constanze Erdmann ◽  
Roua Hassoun ◽  
Sebastian Schmitt ◽  
Carlos Kikuti ◽  
Anne Houdusse ◽  
...  

The human mutant cardiac α-actins p.A295S or p.R312H and p.E361G, correlated with hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, respectively, were expressed by the baculovirus/Sf21 insect cell system and purified to homogeneity. The purified cardiac actins maintained their native state but showed differences in Ca2+-sensitivity to stimulate the myosin-subfragment1 ATPase. Here we analyzed the interactions of these c-actins with actin-binding and -modifying proteins implicated in cardiomyocyte differentiation. We demonstrate that Arp2/3 complex and the formin mDia3 stimulated the polymerization rate and extent of the c-actins, albeit to different degrees. In addition, we tested the effect of the MICAL-1 monooxygenase, which modifies the supramolecular actin organization during development and adaptive processes. MICAL-1 oxidized these c-actin variants and induced their de-polymerization, albeit at different rates. Transfection experiments using MDCK cells demonstrated the preferable incorporation of wild type and p.A295S c-actins into their microfilament system but of p.R312H and p.E361G actins into the submembranous actin network. Transduction of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with adenoviral constructs coding HA-tagged c-actin variants showed their incorporation into microfilaments after one day in culture and thereafter into thin filaments of nascent sarcomeric structures at their plus ends (Z-lines) except the p.E361G mutant, which preferentially incorporated at the minus ends.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Constanze Erdmann ◽  
Roua Hassoun ◽  
Sebastian Schmitt ◽  
Setsuko Fujita-Becker ◽  
Antonina J. Mazur ◽  
...  

Abstract The human mutant cardiac α-actins p.A295S or p.R312H (plus p.R312K) and p.E361G correlated with hypertrophic or dilative cardiomyopathy, respectively, were expressed by using the baculovirus/Sf21 insect cell system. After purification their biochemical and cell biological properties were analysed and compared to wild type (wt) cardiac actin identically obtained or conventionally isolated from bovine hearts. DNase I inhibition and their polymerization behaviour indicated that all c-α-actins had maintained their native state. Cardiomyopathy type specific differences were observed except for the p.R312K mutant, which behaved like wt c-α-actin. The extent of myosin-S1 ATPase stimulation by the c-actin variants and its Ca2+-sensitivity after decoration with tropomyosin (cTm) and troponin complex (cTn) varied being highest for the HCM p.A295S and lower for both DCM mutants. Similar Ca2+-sensitivity differences were observed by recording the fluorescence increase of pyrene-cTm in the absence or presence of myosin-S1 and/or the actin-binding N-terminal fragment of cardiac myosin binding protein C (N-cMyBP-C). Transfection experiments showed the incorporation of the c-actin variants into existing cytoskeletal elements of non-muscle cells. Wt and p.A295S c-α-actin preferably incorporated into the microfilament system and p.R312H and p.E361G into the submembranous actin network of MDCK cells. Transduction of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes with adenoviral constructs coding for HA-tagged c-α-actins showed their incorporation into thin filaments of nascent sarcomeric structures at their plus ends (Z-lines) except the p.E361G mutant, which preferably incorporated at the minus ends. Our data indicate functional differences of the c-α-actins that may be causative for the different cardiomyopathy phenotypes.


Author(s):  
Ramona M. Vejandla ◽  
Buyan-Ochir Orgil ◽  
Neely R. Alberson ◽  
Ning Li ◽  
Undral Munkhsaikhan ◽  
...  

Background: The actin-binding sarcomeric nebulette (NEBL) protein provides efficient contractile flexibility via interaction with desmin intermediate filaments. NEBL gene mutations affecting the nebulin repeat (NR) domain is known to induce cardiomyopathy. Objective: The study aimed to explore the roles of NEBL in exercise and biomechanical stress response. Methods: We ablated exon3 encoding the first NR of Nebl and created global Nebl3ex-/3ex- knockout mice. Cardiac function, structure and transcriptome was assessed before and after a 4-week treadmill regimen. A Nebl-based exercise signaling network was constructed using systems genetics methods. H9C2 and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCs) expressing wild-type or mutant NEBL underwent cyclic mechanical strain. Results: Nebl3ex-/3ex- mice demonstrated diastolic dysfunction with preserved systolic function at 6-months of age. After treadmill running, 4-month-old Nebl3ex-/3ex- mice developed concentric cardiac hypertrophy and left ventricular dilation compared to running Nebl+/+ and sedentary Nebl3ex-/3ex- mice. Disturbance of sarcomeric Z-disks and thin filaments architecture, disruption of intercalated disks and mitochondria were found in exercised Nebl3ex-/3ex- mice. A Nebl-based exercise signaling network included Csrp3, Des, Fbox32, Jup, Myh6, and Myh7. Disturbed expression of TM1, DES, JUP, b-catenin, MLP, α-actinin2 and vinculin proteins was demonstrated. In H9C2 cells, NEBL was recruited into focal adhesions at 24-hours post-strain and redistributed along with F-actin at 72-hours post-strain, suggesting time-dependent redistribution of NEBL in response to strain. NEBL mutations cause desmin disorganization in NRCs upon stretch. Conclusions: Upon stretch, NEBL deficiency causes disturbed sarcomere, Z-disks and desmin organization, and prevents NEBL redistribution to focal adhesions in cardiomyocytes, weakening cardiac tolerance to stress.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Burbaum ◽  
Jonathan Schneider ◽  
Sarah Scholze ◽  
Ralph T Böttcher ◽  
Wolfgang Baumeister ◽  
...  

Sarcomeres, the basic contractile units of striated muscle, produce the forces driving muscular contraction through cross-bridge interactions between actin-containing thin filaments and myosin II-based thick filaments. Until now, direct visualization of the molecular architecture underlying sarcomere contractility has remained elusive. Here, we use in situ cryo-electron to-mography to unveil sarcomere contraction in frozen-hydrated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. We show that the hexagonal lattice of the thick filaments is already established at the neonatal stage, with an excess of thin filaments outside the trigonal positions. Structural assessment of actin polarity by subtomogram averaging reveals that thin filaments in the fully activated state form overlapping arrays of opposite polarity in the center of the sarcomere. Our approach provides direct evidence for thin filament sliding during muscle contraction and may serve as a basis for structural understanding of thin filament activation and actomyosin interactions inside unperturbed cellular environments.


2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (44) ◽  
pp. 13573-13578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher T. Pappas ◽  
Rachel M. Mayfield ◽  
Christine Henderson ◽  
Nima Jamilpour ◽  
Cathleen Cover ◽  
...  

Leiomodin 2 (Lmod2) is an actin-binding protein that has been implicated in the regulation of striated muscle thin filament assembly; its physiological function has yet to be studied. We found that knockout of Lmod2 in mice results in abnormally short thin filaments in the heart. We also discovered that Lmod2 functions to elongate thin filaments by promoting actin assembly and dynamics at thin filament pointed ends. Lmod2-KO mice die as juveniles with hearts displaying contractile dysfunction and ventricular chamber enlargement consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy. Lmod2-null cardiomyocytes produce less contractile force than wild type when plated on micropillar arrays. Introduction of GFP-Lmod2 via adeno-associated viral transduction elongates thin filaments and rescues structural and functional defects observed in Lmod2-KO mice, extending their lifespan to adulthood. Thus, to our knowledge, Lmod2 is the first identified mammalian protein that functions to elongate actin filaments in the heart; it is essential for cardiac thin filaments to reach a mature length and is required for efficient contractile force and proper heart function during development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (9) ◽  
pp. eaax2066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca C. Ahrens-Nicklas ◽  
Christopher T. Pappas ◽  
Gerrie P. Farman ◽  
Rachel M. Mayfield ◽  
Tania M. Larrinaga ◽  
...  

Neonatal heart failure is a rare, poorly-understood presentation of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Exome sequencing in a neonate with severe DCM revealed a homozygous nonsense variant in leiomodin 2 (LMOD2, p.Trp398*). Leiomodins (Lmods) are actin-binding proteins that regulate actin filament assembly. While disease-causing mutations in smooth (LMOD1) and skeletal (LMOD3) muscle isoforms have been described, the cardiac (LMOD2) isoform has not been previously associated with human disease. Like our patient, Lmod2-null mice have severe early-onset DCM and die before weaning. The infant’s explanted heart showed extraordinarily short thin filaments with isolated cardiomyocytes displaying a large reduction in maximum calcium-activated force production. The lack of extracardiac symptoms in Lmod2-null mice, and remarkable morphological and functional similarities between the patient and mouse model informed the decision to pursue cardiac transplantation in the patient. To our knowledge, this is the first report of aberrant cardiac thin filament assembly associated with human cardiomyopathy.


2016 ◽  
Vol 119 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nadya Alyacoub ◽  
Salma Awad ◽  
Mohmad Kunhi ◽  
Walid Al-Habeeb ◽  
Coralie Poizat

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a common form of cardiomyopathy causing systolic dysfunction and heart failure. Rare variants in more than 30 genes mostly encoding sarcomeric proteins and proteins of the extracellular matrix have been implicated in familial DCM to date. We recently identified a novel mutation (Gly243Arg) in FBXO32 causing familial DCM through abnormal SKP1/CUL/F-BOX (SCF) complex formation and defects in proteins regulating the autophagy/lysosome machinery (Al-Yacoub, Genome Biology, 2016). Objective: To explore in more details the mechanisms by which the defective SCF FBXO32 complex leads to the development of DCM. Methodology: Using a PCR-based microarray, we screened for mRNAs significantly dysregulated in the heart of the patient carrying the FBXO32 mutation compared to control and idiopathic human hearts. Subsequently, we validated dysregulation of a candidate gene using immunoblot analysis and tested the effect of the mutant or wild-type FBXO32 on the novel candidate identified in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Results: We found a robust up-regulation in mRNA expression of the Activating transcription Factor 2 (ATF2), a member of the leucine zipper family of DNA binding proteins, which plays a critical role in cardiac development. ATF2 protein level was also strongly increased in the heart with the FBXO32 mutation compared to control hearts and to hearts of idiopathic origin. Expression of the mutant FBXO32 protein in primary cardiomyocytes enhanced ATF2 protein expression compared to cells expressing the wild-type FBXO32 protein. Since FBXO32 is member of the SCF complex and has ubiquitin ligase activity, experiments are now investigating whether FBXO32 directly regulates ATF2 protein stability and the role of ATF2 in autophagy flux regulation in dilated cardiomyopathy. Conclusion: Our results indicate that abnormal SCF activity due to the FBXO32 mutation stabilizes the AFT2 transcription factor and suggest a new mechanism by aberrant SCF activity causes DCM in human.


2016 ◽  
Vol 213 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamila Bledzka ◽  
Katarzyna Bialkowska ◽  
Khalid Sossey-Alaoui ◽  
Julia Vaynberg ◽  
Elzbieta Pluskota ◽  
...  

Reduced levels of kindlin-2 (K2) in endothelial cells derived from K2+/− mice or C2C12 myoblastoid cells treated with K2 siRNA showed disorganization of their actin cytoskeleton and decreased spreading. These marked changes led us to examine direct binding between K2 and actin. Purified K2 interacts with F-actin in cosedimentation and surface plasmon resonance analyses and induces actin aggregation. We further find that the F0 domain of K2 binds actin. A mutation, LK47/AA, within a predicted actin binding site (ABS) of F0 diminishes its interaction with actin by approximately fivefold. Wild-type K2 and K2 bearing the LK47/AA mutation were equivalent in their ability to coactivate integrin αIIbβ3 in a CHO cell system when coexpressed with talin. However, K2-LK47/AA exhibited a diminished ability to support cell spreading and actin organization compared with wild-type K2. The presence of an ABS in F0 of K2 that influences outside-in signaling across integrins establishes a new foundation for considering how kindlins might regulate cellular responses.


2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 460-467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Chen ◽  
Lisa Larsson ◽  
Espen Haugen ◽  
Olga Fedorkova ◽  
Eva Angwald ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 151 (5) ◽  
pp. 660-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Solís ◽  
Brenda Russell

Muscle adaptation is a response to physiological demand elicited by changes in mechanical load, hormones, or metabolic stress. Cytoskeletal remodeling processes in many cell types are thought to be primarily regulated by thin filament formation due to actin-binding accessory proteins, such as the actin-capping protein. Here, we hypothesize that in muscle, the actin-capping protein (named CapZ) integrates signaling by a variety of pathways, including phosphorylation and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) binding, to regulate muscle fiber growth in response to mechanical load. To test this hypothesis, we assess mechanotransduction signaling that regulates muscle growth using neonatal rat ventricular myocytes cultured on substrates with the stiffness of the healthy myocardium (10 kPa), fibrotic myocardium (100 kPa), or glass. We investigate how PIP2 signaling affects CapZ using the PIP2 sequestering agent neomycin and the effect of PKC-mediated CapZ phosphorylation using the PKC-activating drug phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Molecular simulations suggest that close interactions between PIP2 and the β-tentacle of CapZ are modified by phosphorylation at T267. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) demonstrates that the kinetic binding constant of CapZ to sarcomeric thin filaments in living muscle cells increases with stiffness or PMA treatment but is diminished by PIP2 reduction. Furthermore, CapZ with a deletion of the β-tentacle that lacks the phosphorylation site T267 shows increased FRAP kinetics with lack of sensitivity to PMA treatment or PIP2 reduction. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) probes the molecular interactions between PIP2 and CapZ, which are decreased by PIP2 availability or by the β-tentacle truncation. These data suggest that CapZ is bound to actin tightly in the idle, locked state, with little phosphorylation or PIP2 binding. However, this tight binding is loosened in growth states triggered by mechanical stimuli such as substrate stiffness, which may have relevance to fibrotic heart disease.


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