Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P06889 (Mol)
630,302 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

MURF-1, MURF-2 and MURF-3 are a specific class of RING finger proteins that are expressed in striated muscle tissues. MURF-1 has been suggested to act as an ubiquitin ligase, thereby controlling proteasome-dependent degradation of muscle proteins. Here, we performed yeast two-hybrid (YTH) screens of skeletal muscle cDNA libraries with MURF-1 baits to identify potential myocellular targets of MURF-1-dependent ubiquitination. This identified eight myofibrillar proteins as binding partners of MURF-1: titin, nebulin, the nebulin-related protein NRAP, troponin-I (TnI), troponin-T (TnT), myosin light chain 2 (MLC-2), myotilin and T-cap. YTH mating studies with MURF-1,2,3 baits indicated that these eight myofibrillar proteins are all targeted redundantly by both MURF-1 and MURF-2. Western blot studies on cardiac tissues from wild-type and MURF-1-deficient mice suggested that titin and nebulin were ubiquitinated at similar levels, and MLC-2 and TnI at reduced levels in MURF-1 KO mice. Mapping of the TnI and titin binding sites on MURF-1 peptide scans demonstrated their binding to motifs highly conserved between MURF-1 and MURF-2. Our data are consistent with a model in which MURF-1 and MURF-2 together target a specific set of myofibrillar proteins redundantly, most likely to control their ubiquitination-dependent degradation. Finally, our YTH screens identified the interaction of MURF-1 with 11 enzymes required for ATP/energy production in muscle including the mitochondrial ATP synthase and cytoplasmic creatine kinase. These data raise the possibility that MURF-1 may coordinately regulate the energy metabolism of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic compartments.
J Mol Biol 2005 Jul 22
PMID:MURF-1 and MURF-2 target a specific subset of myofibrillar proteins redundantly: towards understanding MURF-dependent muscle ubiquitination. 1596 62

Human tibial muscular dystrophy and limb-girdle muscular dystrophy 2J are caused by mutations in the giant sarcomeric protein titin (TTN) adjacent to a binding site for the muscle-specific protease calpain 3 (CAPN3). Muscular dystrophy with myositis (mdm) is a recessive mouse mutation with severe and progressive muscular degeneration caused by a deletion in the N2A domain of titin (TTN-N2ADelta83), disrupting a putative binding site for CAPN3. To determine whether the muscular dystrophy in mutant mdm mice is caused by misregulation of CAPN3 activity, genetic crosses with CAPN3 overexpressing transgenic (C3Tg) and CAPN3 knockout (C3KO) mice were generated. Here, we report that overexpression of CAPN3 exacerbates the mdm disease, leading to a shorter life span and more severe muscular dystrophy. However, in a direct genetic test of CAPN3's role as a mediator of mdm pathology, C3KO;mdm double mutant mice showed no change in the progression or severity of disease indicating that aberrant CAPN3 activity is not a primary mechanism in this disease. To determine whether we could detect a functional deficit in titin in a non-disease state, we examined the treadmill locomotion of heterozygous +/mdm mice and detected a significant increase in stride time with a concomitant increase in stance time. Interestingly, these altered gait parameters were completely corrected by CAPN3 overexpression in transgenic C3Tg;+/mdm mice, supporting a CAPN3-dependent role for the N2A domain of TTN in the dynamics of muscle contraction.
Hum Mol Genet 2005 Oct 01
PMID:Mdm muscular dystrophy: interactions with calpain 3 and a novel functional role for titin's N2A domain. 1611 18

Ankyrins form a family of modular adaptor proteins that link between integral membrane proteins and the cytoskeleton. They evolved within the Metazoa as an adaptation for organizing membrane microstructure and directing membrane traffic. Molecular cloning has identified one Caenorhabditis elegans (unc-44), two Drosophila (Dank1, Dank2), and three mammalian (Ank1, Ank2, Ank3) genes. We have previously identified a 76-amino acid (aa) alternatively spliced sequence that is present in muscle polypeptides encoded by the rat Ank3 gene. A closely related sequence in a muscle Ank1 product binds the cytoskeletal muscle proteins obscurin and titin. This obscurin/titin-binding-related domain (OTBD) contains repeated modules of 18 aa: three are encoded by Ank1 and Ank2, two by Ank3; this pattern is conserved throughout vertebrate ankyrin genes. The C. elegans ankyrin, UNC-44, contains one 18-aa module as does the ankyrin gene in the urochordate Ciona intestinalis, but the insect ankyrins contain none. Our data indicate that an ancestral ankyrin acquired an 18-aa module which was preserved in the Ecdysozoa/deuterostome divide, but it was subsequently lost from arthropods. Successive duplications of the module led to a gain of function in vertebrates as it acquired obscurin/titin-binding activity. We suggest that the OTBD represents an adaptation of the cytoskeleton that confers muscle cells with resilience to the forces associated with vertebrate life.
Mol Biol Evol 2006 Jan
PMID:Molecular evolution of ankyrin: gain of function in vertebrates by acquisition of an obscurin/titin-binding-related domain. 1613 77

Mutations in the immunoglobulin mu binding protein-2 (Ighmbp2) gene cause motor neuron disease and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in the neuromuscular degeneration (nmd) mouse and spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress (SMARD1) in humans. To investigate the role of IGHMBP2 in the pathogenesis of DCM, we generated transgenic mice expressing the full-length Ighmbp2 cDNA specifically in myocytes under the control of the mouse titin promoter. This tissue-specific transgene increased the lifespan of nmd mice up to 8-fold by preventing primary DCM and showed complete functional correction as measured by ECG, echocardiography and plasma creatine kinase-MB. Double-transgenic nmd mice expressing Ighmbp2 both in myocytes and in neurons display correction of both DCM and motor neuron disease, resulting in an essentially wild-type appearance. Additionally, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis was undertaken to identify genetic modifier loci responsible for the preservation of cardiac function and a marked delay in the onset of cardiomyopathy in a CAST/EiJ backcross population. Three major CAST-derived cardiac modifiers of nmd were identified on chromosomes 9, 10 and 16, which account for over 26% of the genetic variance and that continue to suppress the exacerbation of cardiomyopathy, otherwise resulting in early death, as incipient B6.CAST congenics. Overall, our results verify the tissue-specific requirement for IGHMBP2 in cardiomyocyte maintenance and survival and describe genetic modifiers that can alter the course of DCM through cardiac functional adaptation and physical remodeling in response to changes in load and respiratory demand.
Hum Mol Genet 2005 Nov 01
PMID:Dilated cardiomyopathy in the nmd mouse: transgenic rescue and QTLs that improve cardiac function and survival. 1617 46

Calpain-1 is a ubiquitous intracellular Ca2+-activated protease, which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of reversible myocardial depression (i.e. myocardial stunning) that follows ischemia and reperfusion via myofibrillar protein degradation. However, the target proteins of this degradative process in the human myocardium have not yet been identified. In order to compare the levels of Calpain-1 susceptibility within a set of human myofibrillar proteins (titin, alpha-fodrin, desmin, troponin T (cTnT), troponin I (cTnI) and alpha-actinin), crude left ventricular tissue homogenates were incubated for 0.5, 15, 30, 60 or 120 min in the presence of Calpain-1 (1 U or 5 U). Differences in the kinetics and extents of protein degradation were subsequently evaluated by using silver-stained SDS-polyacrylamide gels and Western immunoblot analyses. These assays revealed myofibrillar proteins with high (titin and alpha-fodrin), moderate (desmin and cTnT), or low (cTnI and alpha-actinin) relative Calpain-1 susceptibilities. The level of phosphorylation of cTnI did not explain its relatively low Calpain-1 susceptibility. Moreover, the molecular mass distributions of the truncated alpha-fodrin, desmin and cTnI fragments resulting from Ca2+-dependent autoproteolysis exhibited marked similarities with those of their Calpain-1-clipped products. These in vitro results shed light on a number of structural (titin, alpha-fodrin, desmin and alpha-actinin) and regulatory (cTnT and cTnI) proteins within the contractile apparatus as potential targets of Calpain-1. Their degradation may contribute to the development of postischemic stunning in the human myocardium.
Mol Cell Biochem 2005 Oct
PMID:Calpain-1-sensitive myofibrillar proteins of the human myocardium. 1618 82

Mechanical resistance of a protein under external force is known to depend on the amino acid sequence, unfolding rate constant, topology and the direction of force applied. To assess the affect of force direction on mechanical resistance, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the partial unfolding of titin I27 have been carried out by applying a ramp of force between the N-terminus and the alpha-carbon of each amino acid, respectively. The results arbitrarily place the amino acids in a hierarchy in terms of the time at which an unfolding intermediate is formed. The onset of unfolding is indeed affected by force direction; directions that give maximum leverage (for the A strand to detach) unfold to the intermediate quicker than directions that give least leverage. Moreover, the change in the time taken to reach the intermediate, hence the change in mechanical resistance, can be attributed to beta-strand topology. The simulations indicate that experimentally multi-directional forced unfolding could be used to reveal and study strand topology, and suggests that direction of applied force, topology and mechanical resistance are all closely related.
J Mol Graph Model 2006 Mar
PMID:Simulations of multi-directional forced unfolding of titin I27. 1629 77

We define here a previously unrecognized structural element close to the heart muscle plasma membrane at the intercalated disc where the myofibrils lead into the adherens junction. At this location, the plasma membrane is extensively folded. Immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy reveal a spectrin-rich domain at the apex of the folds. These domains occur at the axial level of what would be the final Z-disc of the terminal sarcomere in the myofibril, although there is no Z-disc-like structure there. However, a sharp transitional boundary lies between the myofibrillar I-band and intercalated disc thin filaments, identifiable by the presence of Z-disc proteins, alpha-actinin, and N-terminal titin. This allows for the usual elastic positioning of the A-band in the final sarcomere, whereas the transduction of the contractile force normally associated with the Z-disc is transferred to the adherens junctions at the plasma membrane. The axial conjunction of the transitional junction with the spectrin-rich domains suggests a mechanism for direct communication between intercalated disc and contractile apparatus. In particular, it provides a means for sarcomeres to be added to the ends of the cells during growth. This is of particular relevance to understanding myocyte elongation in dilated cardiomyopathy.
Mol Biol Cell 2006 Apr
PMID:The transitional junction: a new functional subcellular domain at the intercalated disc. 1648 94

Kettin is a large actin-binding protein with immunoglobulin-like (Ig) repeats, which is associated with the thin filaments in arthropod muscles. Here, we report identification and functional characterization of kettin in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We found that one of the monoclonal antibodies that were raised against C. elegans muscle proteins specifically reacts with kettin (Ce-kettin). We determined the entire cDNA sequence of Ce-kettin that encodes a protein of 472 kDa with 31 Ig repeats. Arthropod kettins are splice variants of much larger connectin/titin-related proteins. However, the gene for Ce-kettin is independent of other connectin/titin-related genes. Ce-kettin localizes to the thin filaments near the dense bodies in both striated and nonstriated muscles. The C-terminal four Ig repeats and the adjacent non-Ig region synergistically bind to actin filaments in vitro. RNA interference of Ce-kettin caused weak disorganization of the actin filaments in body wall muscle. This phenotype was suppressed by inhibiting muscle contraction by a myosin mutation, but it was enhanced by tetramisole-induced hypercontraction. Furthermore, Ce-kettin was involved in organizing the cytoplasmic portion of the dense bodies in cooperation with alpha-actinin. These results suggest that kettin is an important regulator of myofibrillar organization and provides mechanical stability to the myofibrils during contraction.
Mol Biol Cell 2006 Jun
PMID:Caenorhabditis elegans kettin, a large immunoglobulin-like repeat protein, binds to filamentous actin and provides mechanical stability to the contractile apparatuses in body wall muscle. 1659 97

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an etiologically heterogeneous cardiac disease characterized by left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction. Approximately 25-30% of DCM patients show a family history of mainly autosomal dominant inheritance. We and others have previously demonstrated that mutations in the giant muscle filament titin (TTN) can cause DCM. However, the prevalence of titin mutations in familial DCM is unknown. In this paper, we report a novel heterozygous 1-bp deletion mutation (c.62890delG) in TTN that cosegregates with DCM in a large Australian pedigree (A3). The TTN deletion mutation c.62890delG causes a frameshift, thereby generating a truncated A-band titin due to a premature stop codon (p.E20963KfsX10) and the addition of ten novel amino acid residues. The clinical phenotype of DCM in kindred A3 demonstrates incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Finally, protein analysis of a skeletal muscle biopsy sample from an affected member did not reveal the predicted truncated titin isoform although the aberrant mRNA was present, suggesting posttranslational modification and degradation of the truncated protein. The identification of a novel disease-causing mutation in the giant titin gene in a third large family with DCM indicates that mutations in titin may account for a significant portion of the genetic etiology in familial DCM.
J Mol Med (Berl) 2006 Jun
PMID:Identification of a novel frameshift mutation in the giant muscle filament titin in a large Australian family with dilated cardiomyopathy. 1673 64

A stretch-induced increase of active tension is one of the most important properties of the heart, known as the Frank-Starling law. Although a variation of myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity with sarcomere length (SL) change was found to be involved, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully clarified. Some recent experimental studies indicate that a reduction of the lattice spacing between thin and thick filaments, through the increase of passive tension caused by the sarcomeric protein titin with an increase in SL within the physiological range, promotes formation of force-generating crossbridges (Xbs). However, the mechanism by which the Xb concentration determines the degree of cooperativity for a given SL has so far evaded experimental elucidation. In this simulation study, a novel, rather simple molecular-based cardiac contraction model, appropriate for integration into a ventricular cell model, was designed, being the first model to introduce experimental data on titin-based radial tension to account for the SL-dependent modulation of the interfilament lattice spacing and to include a conformational change of troponin I (TnI). Simulation results for the isometric twitch contraction time course, the length-tension and the force-[Ca(2+)] relationships are comparable to experimental data. A complete potential Frank-Starling mechanism was analyzed by this simulation study. The SL-dependent modulation of the myosin binding rate through titin's passive tension determines the Xb concentration which then alters the degree of positive cooperativity affecting the rate of the TnI conformation change and causing the Hill coefficient to be SL-dependent.
J Mol Cell Cardiol 2006 Sep
PMID:Mechanism of the Frank-Starling law--a simulation study with a novel cardiac muscle contraction model that includes titin and troponin I. 1686 Mar 36


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