Myosin isoenzymes of amphibian hearts

Cardiac myosins of 10 amphibian species were analysed by electrophoresis. Depending on the species, ventricles and atria contained one or two isomyosins. There were components similar to V2 or V1 of the rat and migrating faster. In the same heart, ventricular and atrial isomyosins were similar or tissue specific. It is suggested that the presence of multiple molecular forms of myosin in the heart is a common property of all vertebrates.     

Myosin isoenzymes of fish hearts

1. Myosin extracted from ventricular and atrial muscles of some fish species were analysed by native and SDS gel electrophoresis. 2. Within the single heart, distinct types of native myosin were present in ventricular and atrial tissues. 3. Ventricular and atrial isomyosins contained two classes of light chain subunits. 4. The present results support the suggestion that the presence of multiple molecular forms of myosin in the heart is a common property of all vertebrates.     

Saving hearts through basic research

Despite the recent advances in molecular medicine and health care, cardiovascular diseases are still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. In 2006, nearly every other death in Germany resulted from disease of the circulatory system, and congenital heart diseases are thought to account for a high number of stillbirths and spontaneous abortions. Remarkable progress in basic research over the past decades has improved our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern a cardiac fate and has helped to establish cell‐based therapeutic approaches to improve the course of cardiovascular diseases. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 87:273–283, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.