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I-protein is localized at the junctional region of A-bands and I-bands of chicken fresh myofibrils.

FITC-labeled antibodies raised against chicken myofibrillar I-protein stained chicken myofibrils, which were fixed with formalin immediately after being cut from the sacrificed chicken breast muscle, at the junctional region of A-bands and I-bands. On the other hand, the antibodies stained the glycerinated myofibrils at the region around Z-bands. Aged glycerinated myofibrils stored in a cold room became stained with the same antibodies at the M-line and the A-band region except for the H-zone and the Z-band. I-Protein, which was originally localized at the A-I junctions, moved to the region around Z-bands and A-bands during the process of preparing myofibrils, paralleling the deterioration of myofibrils. Although I-protein is easily released from its original position, it is not a cytoplasmic protein of muscle but an intrinsic myofibrillar component, because immunoblotting tests showed that I-protein is contained in the myofibrillar fraction and not in the muscular cytoplasmic fraction.

Animals↗

Dynamic behaviour of half-sarcomeres during and after stretch in activated rabbit psoas myofibrils: sarcomere asymmetry but no 'sarcomere popping'.

We examined length changes of individual half-sarcomeres during and after stretch in actively contracting, single rabbit psoas myofibrils containing 10-30 sarcomeres. The myofibrils were fluorescently immunostained so that both Z-lines and M-bands of sarcomeres could be monitored by video microscopy simultaneously with the force measurement. Half-sarcomere lengths were determined by processing of video images and tracking the fluorescent Z-line and M-band signals. Upon Ca2+ activation, during the rise in force, active half-sarcomeres predominantly shorten but to different extents so that an active myofibril consists of half-sarcomeres of different lengths and thus asymmetric sarcomeres, i.e. shifted A-bands, indicating different amounts of filament overlap in the two halves. When force reached a plateau, the myofibril was stretched by 15-20% resting length (L0) at a velocity of approximately 0.2 L0 s(-1). The myofibril force response to a ramp stretch is similar to that reported from muscle fibres. Despite the approximately 2.5-fold increase in force due to the stretch, the variability in half-sarcomere length remained almost constant during the stretch and A-band shifts did not progress further, independent of whether half-sarcomeres shortened or lengthened during the initial Ca2+ activation. Moreover, albeit half-sarcomeres lengthened to different extents during a stretch, rapid elongation of individual sarcomeres beyond filament overlap ('popping') was not observed. Thus, in contrast to predictions of the 'popping sarcomere' hypothesis, a stretch rather stabilizes the uniformity of half-sarcomere lengths and sarcomere symmetry. In general, the half-sarcomere length changes (dynamics) before and after stretch were slow and the dynamics after stretch were not readily predictable on the basis of the steady-state force-sarcomere length relation.

Animals↗

High-speed ultrasensitive instrumentation for myofibril mechanics measurements.

A novel instrument for measuring the mechanics of a single myofibril is described. The principle of the transducer operation is to attach a myofibril to a very fine wire suspended in a magnetic field. Feedback circuits pass current through the wire to maintain the length constant when the myofibril contracts. The wire position is measured optoelectronically at a resolution below 1 A. The myofibril measurement system consists of two independent transducers and is capable of resolving tension down to 0.5 ng/square root Hz and controlling the myofibril length with a 10-microseconds rise time. Optical and electronic designs of the system and calibration and adjustment procedures are described. Experimental chamber design, a flow controller, and an environmental noise cancellation scheme are also discussed.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗

Reversible MM-creatine kinase binding to cardiac myofibrils.

Skinned rat papillary muscles and purified preparations of rat cardiac myofibrils were used to study the nature of the interaction of creatine kinase with cardiac myofibrils. High activity of creatine kinase (2 IU/mg protein in fibers and 0.9 IU/mg in purified myofibrils) was due mostly to reversibly bound enzyme. This activity could be removed and rebound. The process of creatine kinase rebinding was characterized by apparent Km value of 0.14 mg/ml (approximately equal to 2 X 10(6) M). Rebinding of creatine kinase to cardiac myofibrils restored the phenomenon of functional compartmentation of adenine nucleotides in myofibrillar space and restored the ability of phosphocreatine to decrease the rigor tension in the presence of MgADP. The physiological experiments with quick length changes showed that rebinding of creatine kinase to skinned papillary muscle also restored Ca sensitivity, increased maximal tension development, decreased stiffness, and restored the tension recovery after quick length changes in muscle under condition of inhibition of endogenous creatine kinase by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. It is concluded that creatine kinase reversibly bound to cardiac myofibrils is involved in the energy supply for cardiac contraction.

Adenine Nucleotides↗

Cadherin-mediated adhesion is essential for myofibril continuity across the plasma membrane but not for assembly of the contractile apparatus.

The strong coordinated contraction of heart muscle is dependent on the correct alignment and connection of the myofibrils across the plasma membrane. Previous studies indicate that N-cadherin is involved in cardiac myocyte adhesion and myofibrillogenesis. To investigate whether N-cadherin is specifically required for normal myocyte structure and function, we cultured myocytes from wild-type, N-cadherin-null and mutant embryos expressing the epithelial cadherin E-cadherin. In contrast to previous studies in chicken using N-cadherin-perturbing antibodies, our in vitro studies with mouse cells demonstrate that N-cadherin is not required for myofibrillogenesis, but is critical for myofibril organization. That is, N-cadherin-deficient myocytes beat and myofibrils were well formed; however, alignment of the myofibrils through regions of cell-cell contact was lost, resulting in their random orientation. Gap junctions were perturbed in the N-cadherin-null myocytes. By contrast, focal contacts appeared normal in the mutant cells. Furthermore, E-cadherin restored normal cell morphology and behavior to the N-cadherin-deficient myocytes, including proper alignment of the myofibrils. We conclude that a different adhesive system, most probably integrin, is responsible for myofibrillogenesis in the N-cadherin-null myocytes.

Animals↗

Alpha v and alpha 3 integrin subunits are associated with myofibrils during myofibrillogenesis.

The development of the myofibrillar apparatus in skeletal muscle is a process in which transmembrane linkages with adhesion molecules are implicated. Integrins are one class of transmembrane adhesion receptors which appear to mediate these interactions. Two prominent linkages are at the myotendinous junction (MTJ), which residues at the ends of the cell and connects myofibrils to the tendon, and the costameres, which encircle the girth of the cell and connect the Z-disks to the sarcolemma. In this study we report that the alpha v integrin subunit is a prominent component of the costamere. The alpha v subunit is present initially on developing myotubes in a diffuse staining pattern with some concentration along nascent myofibrils. However, it appears in a striated pattern at the costamere and inconsistently at the M-line following the striation of alpha-actinin and titin but before that of desmin. Its recruitment to preformed striation suggests that it is incorporated into a pre-existing structure. The presence of alpha v in the costamere points to a role in lateral myofibrillar anchorage. In addition, we find that the alpha 3 subunit is transiently associated with myofibrils along portions of their lengths and at their ends during myofibrillogenesis. The alpha 3 subunit staining shows a novel localization and junctional structure. As myofibrils become striated the alpha 3 integrin dissociates from the localized pattern and becomes diffuse. This suggests a possible role in the stabilization of nascent myofibrils prior to striation. Antibody-induced perturbation of adhesion mediated by the integrin beta 1 subunit in developing myotubes inhibits assembly of the sarcomeric architecture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Alpha v and alpha 3 integrin subunits are associated with myofibrils during myofibrillogenesis.

The development of the myofibrillar apparatus in skeletal muscle is a process in which transmembrane linkages with adhesion molecules are implicated. Integrins are one class of transmembrane adhesion receptors which appear to mediate these interactions. Two prominent linkages are at the myotendinous junction (MTJ), which resides at the ends of the cell and connects myofibrils to the tendon, and the costameres, which encircle the girth of the cell and connect the Z-disks to the sarcolemma. In this study we report that the alpha v integrin subunit is a prominent component of the costamere. The alpha v subunit is present initially on developing myotubes in a diffuse staining pattern with some concentration along nascent myofibrils. However, it appears in a striated pattern at the costamere and inconsistently at the M-line following the striation of alpha-actinin and titin but before that of desmin. Its recruitment to preformed striation suggests that it is incorporated into a pre-existing structure. The presence of alpha v in the costamere points to a role in lateral myofibrillar anchorage. In addition, we find that the alpha 3 subunit is transiently associated with myofibrils along portions of their lengths and at their ends during myofibrillogenesis. The alpha 3 subunit staining shows a novel localization and junctional structure. As myofibrils become striated the alpha 3 integrin dissociates from the localized pattern and becomes diffuse. This suggests a possible role in the stabilization of nascent myofibrils prior to striation. Antibody-induced perturbation of adhesion mediated by the integrin beta 1 subunit in developing myotubes inhibits assembly of the sarcomeric architecture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Structure of myofibrils at extra-junctional membrane attachment sites in cultured cardiac muscle cells.

The composition and organization of myofibrils at extra-junctional membrane attachment sites in cultured neonatal rat cardiac muscle cells were analysed by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. When myofibril terminals attached to the cell membrane via focal contacts at regions of the sarcolemma that lacked intercalated discs, they appeared to be non-striated and resembled thick actin cables. Although the non-striated terminals contained actin, myosin and alpha-actinin, the proteins were not organized into recognizable sarcomeres at the light microscopic level. Analysis of the structure of the terminals in the electron microscope confirmed that the usual sarcomeric organization and attachments to the sarcolemma were markedly modified. The non-striated myofibril terminals differed in structure from both stress fibres in non-muscle cells and stress fibre-like structures present in embryonic heart cells in culture. Non-striated myofibril terminals attached to the cell membrane by lateral contact with extra-junctional electron-dense membrane plaques rather than by insertion by their ends into the fascia adherens. It is proposed that the structure and composition of membrane-attachment points for myofibrils may have an influence on the structure, organization or stability of contractile elements in cardiac muscle.

Animals↗

Co-existence of nonmuscle-specific and cardiac muscle-specific myosin in myofibrils of cultured adult cardiac muscle cells.

Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that nonmuscle myosin and cardiac muscle-specific myosin were present in the myofibrils of cultured adult cardiac muscle cells at different stages of redifferentiation including fully redifferentiated cells. Nonmuscle myosin and cardiac muscle-specific myosin were observed in amorphous or fibroamorphous form predominantly in unspread and partially spread cardiac myocytes. Nonmuscle myosin and cardiac muscle-specific myosin were present in the same striated myofibrils of the same fully redifferentiated cells. Nonmuscle myosin was localized in the Z-lines of sarcomeres of myofibrils. In double stained cells, alpha-actinin was colocalized with nonmuscle myosin in the Z-lines. The in vivo adult cardiac muscle cells contained nonmuscle myosin and cardiac muscle-specific myosin in the same myofibrils of the same cells with the localization of nonmuscle myosin in Z-lines and intercalated discs. It is evident that the nonmuscle myosin is an integral part of the sarcomeric structure of myofibrils in cardiac muscle cells.

Animals↗

Mechanism of cross-bridge detachment in isometric force relaxation of skeletal and cardiac myofibrils.

Skeletal and cardiac muscle relaxation is governed by the interplay between two macromolecular systems: (i) membrane bound Ca2+ transport proteins and (ii) sarcomeric proteins. Photolysis experiments in skinned muscle preparations and fast solution switching studies in single myofibrils offer means for isolating sarcomeric mechanisms of relaxation from those related to myoplasmic Ca2+ removal. Single myofibril experiments have recently shown that cross-bridge mechanics and detachment kinetics are the major determinants of the time course of relaxation. Full force decay in myofibrils occurs in two phases: a slow one followed by a rapid one. The latter is initiated by sarcomere 'give' and dominated by inter-sarcomere dynamics while the former occurs under nearly isometric conditions. Strong evidence has been found that the slow rate of force decay in myofibril relaxation reflects the rate at which cross-bridges leave force-generating states under isometric conditions. Dissection of chemo-mechanical transduction process in myofibrils indicates that both forward and backward transitions of cross-bridges from force-generating to non-force-generating states contribute to muscle relaxation.

Animals↗

Correlation between biochemical properties and adaptive diversity of skeletal muscle myofibrils and myosin of some air-breathing teleosts.

Functional properties of myofibrils and relative stability of myosin of five teleosts Channa punctata, Clarias batrachus, M astacembalus armatus, Labeo rohita and Catla catla adapted to different breathing modes were compared. Myofibrillar contractility and m-ATPase of air-breathing organ (ABO) possessing C.punctata and C. batrachus were low and least affected by pH in the range of 7.1-8.5. However, their myosin isoforms were relatively thermostable, more soluble at sub-neutral pH values, between 0.1 to 0.15 M KCl concentrations and less susceptible to a-chymotryptic digestion. In contrast, myofibrils and myosin of water-breather major carps L. rohita and C. catla were more contractile and susceptible to pH and salt concentrations. Thus, correlation between catalytic efficiency and relative stability of myofibrils and myosin of ABO-possessing teleosts was of reverse order and magnitude, as compared to water-breathers. Interestingly, myofibrils and myosin of the behavioral air-breather M. armnatus showed intermediate properties. The specific levels of m-ATPase of all the five teleosts were in conformity with the levels of metabolic marker, the lactate dehydrogenase. The effect of chymotryptic cleavage of 94 and 173 kDa domains on ATPase, individuality of peptide maps of MyHC isomers and perturbation of phenylalanine residues by urea implicated hydrophobic residues in stabilizing myosin structure in these fish. The present study suggests two apparent evolutionary modifications of myofibrils and myosin in ABO-possessing teleosts: (i), 'down-regulation' of ATPase that explains sluggishness of such species and, (ii), more stable molecular structure to support stress of air-breathing modes of life.

Actomyosin↗

Kinetics of tryptophan fluorescence enhancement in myofibrils during ATP hydrolysis.

The mechanism of ATP hydrolysis in myofibrils can be studied by following the time course of tryptophan fluorescence. Stoichiometric quantities of ATP produce an enhancement of the tryptophan fluorescence in stirred suspensions of rabbit psoas myofibrils at pCa greater than 7. Approximately 1 mol of ATP/myosin head is required to obtain the maximum fluorescence enhancement of 4-6%. Upon the addition of quantities of ATP greater than 1 mol/mol of myosin head, the fluorescence rapidly increases to a steady state, which lasts for a period that is proportional to the amount of ATP added. The fluorescence then decays to the initial level with a half-time of approximately 40 s at 20 degrees C. Hydrolysis of [gamma-32P]ATP at pCa greater than 7 in myofibrils has an initial burst of approximately 0.7 mol/mol of myosin head that is followed by a constant rate of hydrolysis. The duration of the steady state hydrolysis is identical to the duration of the enhancement of tryptophan fluorescence. A lower limit of 5 X 10(5) M-1 S-1 was obtained for the second order rate constant of the fluorescence enhancement by ATP. At pCa of 4, the duration of the fluorescence enhancement is one-tenth to one-twentieth as long as at pCa greater than 7; this is consistent with the increased steady state rate of ATP hydrolysis at higher calcium concentrations. The time course of the fluorescence enhancement observed in myofibrils during ATP hydrolysis is qualitatively and quantitatively similar to that observed with actomyosin-S1 in solution. These results suggest that the kinetic mechanism of ATP hydrolysis that has been well established by studies of actomyosin-S1 in solution also occurs in myofibrils.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

The substitution of troponin in bullfrog and chicken myofibrils by rabbit skeletal troponin, troponin-T and troponin-T1.

The substitution of troponin in bullfrog skeletal myofibrils by rabbit skeletal troponin, troponin T and troponin T1 was examined by the densitometry of the SDS gel-electrophoretic patterns. The troponin in the myofibrils was replaced by the added rabbit skeletal troponin and troponin T (tropomyosin binding component of troponin) to almost the same extent. On the other hand, troponin T1, the N-terminal side fragment of two chymotryptic fragments of troponin T replaced troponin in the myofibrils less effectively than either troponin or troponin T. Troponin T, also replaced troponin in the myofibrils from rabbit and chicken striated muscles, less effectively than troponin T. This suggested that, in addition to the N-terminal side troponin T1 region, the C-terminal side region (troponin T2) of rabbit skeletal troponin T was also involved in the exchange reaction of troponin in the bullfrog skeletal myofibrils.

Animals↗

Ultrastructure of developing flight muscle in Drosophila. I. Assembly of myofibrils.

In order to evaluate the effects of specific mutations on sarcomere assembly and function in vivo, we describe the course of normal development of Drosophila indirect flight muscle (IFM) in staged pupae using electron microscopy. We find that no contractile assemblies remain in larval muscle remnants invaded by imaginal myoblasts, establishing that myofibrils in IFM assemble de novo. Stress-fiber-like structures or other template structures are not prominent before or during sarcomere assembly. By 42 hr pupation (eclosion approximately 112 hr), thick and thin filaments have appeared simultaneously in slender, interdigitated arrays between regularly spaced Z-bodies. Each tiny, uniformly striated myofibril forms within a "sleeve" of microtubules, and both microtubules and myofibrils are attached to the cell membrane at each end of the fiber from the initial stages of assembly. Later in pupation, the microtubule "sleeves" disassemble. Sarcomere number appears to remain constant. We saw no evidence that terminal sarcomeres are sites for addition of new sarcomeres or that Z-lines split transversely, producing new, very short sarcomeres. Rather, initial thick and thin filaments and sarcomeres are much shorter than adult length. Sarcomere length increases smoothly and coordinately from approximately 1.7 to approximately 3.2 microns, reflecting increase in filament lengths and indicating that myosin and actin molecules must be incorporated into filaments after sarcomere formation. Myofilaments are not seen scattered in the cytoplasm at any time, nor do we detect filaments that could be in the process of being "trolleyed" along myofibrils into positions of lateral register. Myofibril diameter increases uniformly from approximately 4-thick filaments to approximately 36-thick filaments across, by peripheral addition of myofilaments. At each successive stage, all sarcomeres in a fiber attained similar length and diameter. Initial thick filaments are solid but within several hours these and all subsequently assembled thick filaments appear hollow. Initial Z-bodies do not show any internal lattice and are more irregularly shaped than adult Z-discs.

Animals↗

Formation of myofibrils in spreading chick cardiac myocytes.

Cardiac myocytes were isolated from 5-6-day-old chick embryos and allowed to spread in culture. The distribution of alpha-actinin in the cells was followed for five days in culture by exposing permeabilized cells to rhodamine-labeled alpha-actinin and also by injecting the labeled alpha-actinin into living myocytes. In addition to labeling the Z bands of sarcomeres, the added alpha-actinin also labeled small particles that were usually arranged periodically in linear arrays with a spacing between particles of 0.3-2.0 micron. Actin was localized between the particles of alpha-actinin by means of fluorescein-labeled heavy meromyosin. The punctate localization of alpha-actinin was prominent in pseudopods, behind ruffles, and at the periphery of spreading cells. Long rows of particles of alpha-actinin were often parallel to one another with the alpha-actinin particles in register. These linear arrays appeared to merge laterally to form strands with broader concentrations of alpha-actinin. Other linear arrays were parallel to myofibrils in the cell and some extended outward from the ends of myofibrils. We conclude that during spreading of cardiac myocytes, myofibrils form at the cell periphery behind the extending margins of the cell, and that the aggregates of alpha-actinin found in these areas are nascent Z bands in the forming myofibrils.

Actinin↗

Relation of nebulin and connectin (titin) to dynamics of actin in nascent myofibrils of cultured skeletal muscle cells.

Cultured embryonic chicken skeletal muscle cells microinjected with rhodamine (rh)-labeled actin were stained with antibodies against nebulin and connectin (titin). In premyofibril areas, nebulin was observed as dotted structures, many of which were arranged in a linear fashion. These structures were associated with injected rh-actin. Among these linearly arranged dots of nebulin and rh-actin, numerous small nebulin dots without rh-actin incorporation were scattered. It is probable that the dots of nebulin and/or its associated protein(s) represent a preformed scaffold upon which actin monomers accumulate; exogenously introduced actin associates initially with small nebulin dots, which in turn coalesce to form rh-actin dots and are arranged linearly. In developing myofibrils, two patterns of nebulin distribution were found: "singlets" and "doublets." Recovery of rh-actin's fluorescence after photobleaching was slowest in the nonstriated dotted portions, followed by the striated myofibrillar portions with nebulin singlets and those with doublets, in that order. Thus, the distribution patterns of nebulin seem to be related to the accessibility/exchangeability of actin into nascent myofibrils. It is possible that early nebulin filaments exhibiting singlets are not tightly associated with actin filaments and that this loose association allows myofibrils to exchange nonadult isoforms of actin and other proteins into adult types. Connectin formed a striated pattern before the formation of rh-actin/nebulin striations. It appears that connectin does not have any significant role in the accessibility of actin into nascent myofibrils.

Actins↗

Iodination of myofibrils and myosin.

The relative reactivity of the tyrosine side chains in the proteins of skeletal muscle myofibrils was determined using iodination techniques. The destruction of ATPase activity of myofibrils and myosin by lactoperoxidase and chloramine-T iodination could be prevented by the attachment of cysteamine to the sulphydryl groups prior to the iodination reaction and subsequent regeneration with thioglycolate or dithiothreitol. Iodination using 1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-3 alpha, 6 alpha-diphenylglycoluril did not require cysteamine treatment for retention of full enzymatic activity. The specific activity of the different proteins varied markedly with desmin, troponin-T, and tropomyosin having the highest labelling with all three iodination procedures. In contrast the myosin light chains had low specific activity when labelled in myofibrils or intact myosin. The isolated light chains, however, were much more highly iodinated. It appears that iodination may be a useful technique for examining protein-protein interactions in the myofibril.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

Myofibril MgATPase activities and energy metabolism in cardiomyopathic mice with diastolic dysfunction.

To study the genomic physiology of cardiac myofibril proteins in the heart, we have successfully created a cardiac troponin I (cTnI; a myofibril protein) gene knockout mouse model using gene targeting techniques. The phenotype of the cTnI gene knockout mouse is a cardiomyopathy with diastolic dysfunction resulting in sudden death in neonates. In the present studies, energy metabolism was analyzed in myocardial cells from cTnI-null hearts. Myofibril MgATPase activities were determined in myocardial cells from either wild-type or cTnI mutant mouse hearts. Furthermore, the quantity and quality of the mitochondria in wild-type and cTnI mutant animals were counted and analyzed. Our results demonstrate that damaged relaxation and increased Ca(2+)-independent force production in cTnI-null hearts is in part related to the increased myofibril MgATPase activities accompanied by an increase in mitochondria quantity and mitochondrial ATPase activities. These data indicate that cardiomyopathies with diastolic dysfunction are different from cardiomyopathies caused by systolic dysfunction. The former involves the damage of cardiac relaxation due to increased MgATPase activities and increased Ca(2+)-independent force production inside of myofilaments, while the latter involves the damage of systolic contraction due to decreased MgATPase activities and decreased force production.

Animals↗