Structure of the regulatory N-domain of human cardiac troponin C in complex with human cardiac troponin I147-163 and bepridil

Cardiac troponin C (cTnC) is the Ca(2+)-dependent switch for contraction in heart muscle and a potential target for drugs in the therapy of heart failure. Ca(2+) binding to the regulatory domain of cTnC (cNTnC) induces little structural change but sets the stage for cTnI binding. A large "closed" to "open" conformational transition occurs in the regulatory domain upon binding cTnI(147-163) or bepridil. This raises the question of whether cTnI(147-163) and bepridil compete for cNTnC.Ca(2+). In this work, we used two-dimensional (1)H,(15)N-heteronuclear single quantum coherence (HSQC) NMR spectroscopy to examine the binding of bepridil to cNTnC.Ca(2+) in the absence and presence of cTnI(147-163) and of cTnI(147-163) to cNTnC.Ca(2+) in the absence and presence of bepridil. The results show that bepridil and cTnI(147-163) bind cNTnC.Ca(2+) simultaneously but with negative cooperativity. The affinity of cTnI(147-163) for cNTnC.Ca(2+) is reduced approximately 3.5-fold by bepridil and vice versa. Using multinuclear and multidimensional NMR spectroscopy, we have determined the structure of the cNTnC.Ca(2+).cTnI(147-163).bepridil ternary complex. The structure reveals a binding site for cTnI(147-163) primarily located on the A/B interhelical interface and a binding site for bepridil in the hydrophobic pocket of cNTnC.Ca(2+). In the structure, the N terminus of the peptide clashes with part of the bepridil molecule, which explains the negative cooperativity between cTnI(147-163) and bepridil for cNTnC.Ca(2+). This structure provides insights into the features that are important for the design of cTnC-specific cardiotonic drugs, which may be used to modulate the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the myofilaments in heart muscle contraction.     

Structural kinetics of cardiac troponin C mutants linked to familial hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy in troponin complexes

The key events in regulating cardiac muscle contraction involve Ca(2+) binding to and release from cTnC (troponin C) and structural changes in cTnC and other thin filament proteins triggered by Ca(2+) movement. Single mutations L29Q and G159D in human cTnC have been reported to associate with familial hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy, respectively. We have examined the effects of these individual mutations on structural transitions in the regulatory N-domain of cTnC triggered by Ca(2+) binding and dissociation. This study was carried out with a double mutant or triple mutants of cTnC, reconstituted into troponin with tryptophanless cTnI and cTnT. The double mutant, cTnC(L12W/N51C) labeled with 1,5-IAEDANS at Cys-51, served as a control to monitor Ca(2+)-induced opening and closing of the N-domain by F?rster resonance energy transfer (FRET). The triple mutants contained both L12W and N51C labeled with 1,5-IAEDANS, and either L29Q or G159D. Both mutations had minimal effects on the equilibrium distance between Trp-12 and Cys-51-AEDANS in the absence or presence of bound Ca(2+). L29Q had no effect on the closing rate of the N-domain triggered by release of Ca(2+), but reduced the Ca(2+)-induced opening rate. G159D reduced both the closing and opening rates. Previous results showed that the closing rate of cTnC N-domain triggered by Ca(2+) dissociation was substantially enhanced by PKA phosphorylation of cTnI. This rate enhancement was abolished by L29Q or G159D. These mutations alter the kinetics of structural transitions in the regulatory N-domain of cTnC that are involved in either activation (L29Q) or deactivation (G159D). Both mutations appear to be antagonistic toward phosphorylation signaling between cTnI and cTnC.     

Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Related Cardiac Troponin C L29Q Mutation Alters Length-Dependent Activation and Functional Effects of Phosphomimetic Troponin I*

The Ca²⁺ binding properties of the FHC-associated cardiac troponin C (cTnC) mutation L29Q were examined in isolated cTnC, troponin complexes, reconstituted thin filament preparations, and skinned cardiomyocytes. While higher Ca²⁺ binding affinity was apparent for the L29Q mutant in isolated cTnC, this phenomenon was not observed in the cTn complex. At the level of the thin filament in the presence of phosphomimetic TnI, L29Q cTnC further reduced the Ca²⁺ affinity by 27% in the steady-state measurement and increased the Ca²⁺ dissociation rate by 20% in the kinetic studies. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that L29Q destabilizes the conformation of cNTnC in the presence of phosphomimetic cTnI and potentially modulates the Ca²⁺ sensitivity due to the changes of the opening/closing equilibrium of cNTnC. In the skinned cardiomyocyte preparation, L29Q cTnC increased Ca²⁺ sensitivity in a highly sarcomere length (SL)-dependent manner. The well-established reduction of Ca²⁺ sensitivity by phosphomimetic cTnI was diminished by 68% in the presence of the mutation and it also depressed the SL-dependent increase in myofilament Ca²⁺ sensitivity. This might result from its modified interaction with cTnI which altered the feedback effects of cross-bridges on the L29Q cTnC-cTnI-Tm complex. This study demonstrates that the L29Q mutation alters the contractility and the functional effects of the phosphomimetic cTnI in both thin filament and single skinned cardiomyocytes and importantly that this effect is highly sarcomere length dependent.     

Defining the binding site of levosimendan and its analogues in a regulatory cardiac troponin C-troponin I complex

The interaction of Cardiac Troponin C (cTnC) and Cardiac Troponin I (cTnI) plays a critical role in transmitting the Ca (2+) signal to the other myofilament proteins in the activation of cardiac muscle contraction. As such, the cTnC-cTnI interface is a logical target for cardiotonic agents such as levosimendan that can modulate the Ca (2+) sensitivity of the myofilaments. Evidence indicates that drug candidates may exert their effects by targeting a site formed by binding of the switch region of cTnI to the regulatory N domain of cTnC (cNTnC). In this study, we utilized two-dimensional (1)H- (15)N HSQC NMR spectroscopy to monitor the binding of levosimendan and its analogues, CMDP, AMDP, CI-930, imazodan, and MPDP, to cNTnC.Ca (2+) in complex with two versions of the switch region of cTnI (cTnI 147-163 and cTnI 144-163). Levosimendan, CMDP, AMDP, and CI-930 were found to bind to both cNTnC.Ca (2+).cTnI 147-163 and cNTnC.Ca (2+).cTnI 144-163 complexes. These compounds contain a methyl group that is absent in MPDP or imazodan. Thus, the methyl group is one of the pharmacophores responsible for the action of these pyridazinone drugs on cTnC. Furthermore, the results showed that the cNTnC.Ca (2+).cTnI 144-163 complex presents a higher-affinity binding site for these compounds than the cNTnC.Ca (2+).cTnI 147-163 complex. This is consistent with our observation that the affinity of cTnI 144-163 for cNTnC.Ca (2+) is approximately 10-fold stronger than that of cTnI 147-163, likely a result of electrostatic forces between the N-terminal RRV extension in cTnI 144-163 and the acidic residues in the C and D helices of cNTnC. These results will help in the delineation of the mode of action of levosimendan on the important functional unit of cardiac troponin that constitutes the regulatory domain of cTnC and the switch region of cTnI.     

Structure of the C-domain of human cardiac troponin C in complex with the Ca2+ sensitizing drug EMD 57033

Ca(2+) binding to cardiac troponin C (cTnC) triggers contraction in heart muscle. In heart failure, myofilaments response to Ca(2+) are often altered and compounds that sensitize the myofilaments to Ca(2+) possess therapeutic value in this syndrome. One of the most potent and selective Ca(2+) sensitizers is the thiadiazinone derivative EMD 57033, which increases myocardial contractile function both in vivo and in vitro and interacts with cTnC in vitro. We have determined the NMR structure of the 1:1 complex between Ca(2+)-saturated C-domain of human cTnC (cCTnC) and EMD 57033. Favorable hydrophobic interactions between the drug and the protein position EMD 57033 in the hydrophobic cleft of the protein. The drug molecule is orientated such that the chiral group of EMD 57033 fits deep in the hydrophobic pocket and makes several key contacts with the protein. This stereospecific interaction explains why the (-)-enantiomer of EMD 57033 is inactive. Titrations of the cCTnC.EMD 57033 complex with two regions of cardiac troponin I (cTnI(34-71) and cTnI(128-147)) reveal that the drug does not share a common binding epitope with cTnI(128-147) but is completely displaced by cTnI(34-71). These results have important implications for elucidating the mechanism of the Ca(2+) sensitizing effect of EMD 57033 in cardiac muscle contraction.     

Dilated Cardiomyopathy Mutations and Phosphorylation disrupt the Active Orientation of Cardiac Troponin C

Cardiac troponin (cTn) is made up of three subunits, cTnC, cTnI, and cTnT. The regulatory N-terminal domain of cTnC (cNTnC) controls cardiac muscle contraction in a calcium-dependent manner. We show that calcium-saturated cNTnC can adopt two different orientations, with the “active” orientation consistent with the 2020 cryo-EM structure of the activated cardiac thin filament by Yamada et al. Using solution NMR ¹⁵N R₂ relaxation analysis, we demonstrate that the two domains of cTnC tumble independently (average R₂ 10 s⁻¹), being connected by a flexible linker. However, upon addition of cTnI_1-77, the complex tumbles as a rigid unit (R₂ 30 s⁻¹). cTnI phosphomimetic mutants S22D/S23D, S41D/S43D and dilated cardiomyopathy- (DCM-)associated mutations cTnI K35Q, cTnC D75Y, and cTnC G159D destabilize the active orientation of cNTnC, with intermediate ¹⁵N R₂ rates (R₂ 17–23 s⁻¹). The active orientation of cNTnC is stabilized by the flexible tails of cTnI, cTnI_1-37 and cTnI_135-209. Surprisingly, when cTnC is incorporated into complexes lacking these tails (cTnC-cTnI_38-134, cTnC-cTnT_223-288, or cTnC-cTnI_38-134-cTnT_223-288), the cNTnC domain is still immobilized, revealing a new interaction between cNTnC and the IT-arm that stabilizes a “dormant” orientation. We propose that the calcium sensitivity of the cardiac troponin complex is regulated by an equilibrium between active and dormant orientations, which can be shifted through post-translational modifications or DCM-associated mutations.     

Interaction of cardiac troponin C with calmodulin antagonist [corrected] W7 in the presence of three functional regions of cardiac troponin I

W7 is a well-known calmodulin (CaM) antagonist and has been implicated as an inhibitor of the troponin C-mediated Ca(2+) activation of cardiac muscle contraction. In this study, we use NMR spectroscopy to study binding of W7 to cardiac troponin C (cTnC) free or in complex with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) peptides. Titration of cTnC.3Ca(2+) with W7 shows that residues throughout the sequence, including the N- and C-domains of cTnC and the central linker, are affected. Analysis of the binding stoichiometry and the trajectories of chemical shift changes indicate that W7 binding occurs at multiple sites. To address the issue of whether multiple-site binding is relevant within the troponin complex, W7 is titrated to a cTnC-cTnI complex (cTnC.3Ca(2+).cTnI(34)(-)(71).cTnI(128)(-)(163)). In the presence of the N-terminal (residues approximately 34-71), inhibitory (residues approximately 128-147), and switch (residues approximately 147-163) regions of cTnI, W7 induces chemical shift changes only in the N-domain and not in the C-domain or the central linker of cTnC. The results indicate that in the presence of cTnI, W7 no longer binds to multiple sites of cTnC but instead binds specifically to the N-domain, and the binding (K(D) = 0.5 +/- 0.1 mM) can occur together with the switch region of cTnI. Hence, W7 may play a role in directly modulating the Ca(2+) sensitivity of the regulatory domain of cTnC and the interaction of the switch region of cTnI and cTnC.     

Drug binding to cardiac troponin C.

Compounds that sensitize cardiac muscle to Ca(2+) by intervening at the level of regulatory thin filament proteins would have potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment of myocardial infarctions. Two putative Ca(2+) sensitizers, EMD 57033 and levosimendan, are reported to bind to cardiac troponin C (cTnC). In this study, we use heteronuclear NMR techniques to study drug binding to [methyl-(13)C]methionine-labeled cTnC when free or when complexed with cardiac troponin I (cTnI). In the absence of Ca(2+), neither drug interacted with cTnC. In the presence of Ca(2+), one molecule of EMD 57033 bound specifically to the C-terminal domain of free cTnC. NMR and equilibrium dialysis failed to demonstrate binding of levosimendan to free cTnC, and the presence of levosimendan had no apparent effect on the Ca(2+) binding affinity of cTnC. Changes in the N-terminal methionine methyl chemical shifts in cTnC upon association with cTnI suggest that cTnI associates with the A-B helical interface and the N terminus of the central helix in cTnC. NMR experiments failed to show evidence of binding of levosimendan to the cTnC.cTnI complex. However, levosimendan covalently bound to a small percentage of free cTnC after prolonged incubation with the protein. These findings suggest that levosimendan exerts its positive inotropic effect by mechanisms that do not involve binding to cTnC.     

Modulation of cardiac troponin C function by the cardiac-specific N-terminus of troponin I: influence of PKA phosphorylation and involvement in cardiomyopathies

The cardiac-specific N-terminus of cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is known to modulate the activity of troponin upon phosphorylation with protein kinase A (PKA) by decreasing its Ca²⁺ affinity and increasing the relaxation rate of the thin filament. The molecular details of this modulation have not been elaborated to date. We have established that the N-terminus and the switch region of cTnI bind to cNTnC [the N-domain of cardiac troponin C (cTnC)] simultaneously and that the PKA signal is transferred via the cTnI N-terminus modulating the cNTnC affinity toward cTnI_147-163 but not toward Ca²⁺. The K_d of cNTnC for cTnI_147-163 was found to be 600 μM in the presence of cTnI_1-29 and 370 μM in the presence of cTn1_1-29PP, which can explain the difference in muscle relaxation rates upon the phosphorylation with PKA in experiments with cardiac fibers. In the light of newly found mutations in cNTnC that are associated with cardiomyopathies, the important role played by the cTnI N-terminus in the development of heart disorders emerges. The mutants studied, L29Q (the N-domain of cTnC containing mutation L29Q) and E59D/D75Y (the N-domain of cTnC containing mutation E59D/D75Y), demonstrated unchanged Ca²⁺ affinity per se and in complex with the cTnI N-terminus (cTnI_1-29 and cTnI_1-29PP). The affinity of L29Q and E59D/D75Y toward cTnI_147-163 was significantly perturbed, both alone and in complex with cTnI_1-29 and cTnI_1-29PP, which is likely to be responsible for the development of malfunctions.     

Effects of T142 phosphorylation and mutation R145G on the interaction of the inhibitory region of human cardiac troponin I with the C-domain of human cardiac troponin C

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is the inhibitory component of the troponin complex, and its interaction with cardiac troponin C (cTnC) plays a critical role in transmitting the Ca(2+) signal to the other myofilament proteins in heart muscle contraction. The switch between contraction and relaxation involves a movement of the inhibitory region of cTnI (cIp) from cTnC to actin-tropomyosin. This region of cTnI is prone to missense mutations in heart disease, and a specific mutation, R145G, has been associated with familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It also contains the unique cardiac PKC phosphorylation site at residue T142. To determine the structural consequences of the mutation R145G and the T142 phosphorylation on the interaction of cIp with cTnC, we have utilized 2D [(1)H, (15)N]-HSQC NMR spectroscopy to monitor the binding of native cIp, cIp-R (R145G), and cIp-P (phosphorylated T142), respectively, to the Ca(2+)-saturated C-domain of cTnC (cCTnC.2Ca(2+)). We also report a strategy for cloning, expression, and purification of cTnI peptide, and both synthetic and recombinant peptides are used in this study. NMR chemical shift mapping indicates that the binding epitope of cIp on cCTnC.2Ca(2+) is not greatly affected, but the affinity is reduced by approximately 14-fold by the T142 phosphorylation and approximately 4-fold by the mutation R145G, respectively. This suggests that these modifications of cIp have an adverse effect on the binding of cIp to cCTnC.2Ca(2+). These perturbations may correlate with the impairment or loss of cTnI function in heart muscle contraction.     

Structure of the Mg2+-loaded C-lobe of cardiac troponin C bound to the N-domain of cardiac troponin I: comparison with the Ca2+-loaded structure

Cardiac troponin C (cTnC) is the Ca(2+)-binding component of the troponin complex and, as such, is the Ca(2+)-dependent switch in muscle contraction. This protein consists of two globular lobes, each containing a pair of EF-hand metal-binding sites, connected by a linker. In the N lobe, Ca(2+)-binding site I is inactive and Ca(2+)-binding site II is primarily responsible for initiation of muscle contraction. The C lobe contains Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-binding sites III and IV, which bind Mg(2+) with lower affinity and play a structural as well as a secondary role in modulating the Ca(2+) signal. To understand the structural consequences of Ca(2+)/Mg(2+) exchange in the C lobe, we have determined the NMR solution structure of the Mg(2+)-loaded C lobe, cTnC(81-161), in a complex with the N domain of cardiac troponin I, cTnI(33-80), and compared it with a refined Ca(2+)-loaded structure. The overall tertiary structure of the Mg(2+)-loaded C lobe is very similar to that of the refined Ca(2+)-loaded structure as evidenced by the root-mean-square deviation of 0.94 A for all backbone atoms. While metal-dependent conformational changes are minimal, substitution of Mg(2+) for Ca(2+) is characterized by condensation of the C-terminal portion of the metal-binding loops with monodentate Mg(2+) ligation by the conserved Glu at position 12 and partial closure of the cTnI hydrophobic binding cleft around site IV. Thus, conformational plasticity in the Ca(2+)/Mg(2+)-dependent binding loops may represent a mechanism to modulate C-lobe cTnC interactions with the N domain of cTnI.     

Interaction of cardiac troponin C with Ca(2+) sensitizer EMD 57033 and cardiac troponin I inhibitory peptide

The binding of Ca(2+) to cardiac troponin C (cTnC) triggers contraction in cardiac muscle. In diseased heart, the myocardium is often desensitized to Ca(2+), leading to weak cardiac contractility. Compounds that can sensitize cardiac muscle to Ca(2+) would have potential therapeutic value in treating heart failure. The thiadiazinone derivative EMD 57033 is an identified 'Ca(2+) sensitizer', and cTnC is a potential target of the drug. In this work, we used 2D ?(1)H, (15)N?-HSQC NMR spectroscopy to monitor the binding of EMD 57033 to cTnC in the Ca(2+)-saturated state. By mapping the chemical shift changes to the structure of cTnC, EMD 57033 is found to bind to the C-domain of cTnC. To test whether EMD 57033 competes with cardiac TnI (cTnI) for cTnC and interferes with the inhibitory function, we examined the interaction of cTnC with an inhibitory cTnI peptide (residues 128-147, cIp) in the absence and presence of EMD 57033, respectively. cTnC was also titrated with EMD 57033 in the presence of cIp. The results show that although both the drug and cIp interact with the C-domain of cTnC, they do not displace each other, suggesting noncompetitive binding sites for the two targets. Detailed chemical shift mapping of the binding sites reveals that the regions encompassing helix G-loop IV-helix H are more affected by EMD 57033, while residues located on helix E-loop III-helix F and the linker between sites III and IV are more affected by cIp. In both cases, the binding stoichiometry is 1:1. The binding affinities for the drug are 8.0 +/- 1.8 and 7.4 +/- 4.8 microM in the absence and presence of cIp, respectively, while those for the peptide are 78.2 +/- 10.3 and 99.2 +/- 30.0 microM in the absence and presence of EMD 57033, respectively. These findings suggest that EMD 57033 may exert its positive inotropic effect by not directly enhancing Ca(2+) binding to the Ca(2+) regulatory site of cTnC, but by binding to the structural domain of cTnC, modulating the interaction between cTnC and other thin filament proteins, and increasing the apparent Ca(2+) sensitivity of the contractile system.     

Binding of cardiac troponin-I147-163 induces a structural opening in human cardiac troponin-C.

The interaction of troponin-C (TnC) with troponin-I (TnI) plays a central role in skeletal and cardiac muscle contraction. We have recently shown that the binding of Ca2+ to cardiac TnC (cTnC) does not induce an "opening" of the regulatory domain in order to interact with cTnI [Sia, S. K., et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 18216-18221; Spyracopoulos et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 12138-12146], which is in contrast to the regulatory N-domain of skeletal TnC (sTnC). This implies that the mode of interaction between cTnC and cTnI may be different than that between sTnC and sTnI. In sTnI, a region downstream from the inhibitory region (residues 115-131) has been shown to bind the exposed hydrophobic pocket of Ca2+-saturated sNTnC [McKay, R. T., et al. (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, 28494-28500]. The present study demonstrates that the corresponding region in cTnI (residues 147-163) binds to the regulatory domain of cTnC only in the Ca2+-saturated state to form a 1:1 complex, with an affinity approximately six times weaker than that between the skeletal counterparts. Thus, while Ca2+ does not cause opening, it is required for muscle regulation. The solution structure of the cNTnC.Ca2+.cTnI147-163 complex has been determined by multinuclear multidimensional NMR spectroscopy. The structure reveals an open conformation for cNTnC, similar to that of Ca2+-saturated sNTnC. The bound peptide adopts a alpha-helical conformation spanning residues 150-157. The C-terminus of the peptide is unstructured. The open conformation for Ca2+-saturated cNTnC in the presence of cTnI (residues 147-163) accommodates hydrophobic interactions between side chains of the peptide and side chains at the interface of A and B helices of cNTnC. Thus the mechanistic differences between the regulation of cardiac and skeletal muscle contraction can be understood in terms of different thermodynamics and kinetics equilibria between essentially the same structure states.     

Structural transition of the inhibitory region of troponin I within the regulated cardiac thin filament

Contraction and relaxation of cardiac muscle are regulated by the inhibitory and regulatory regions of troponin I (cTnI). Our previous FRET studies showed that the inhibitory region of cTnI in isolated troponin experiences a structural transition from a beta-turn/coil motif to an extended conformation upon Ca(2+) activation. During the relaxation process, the kinetics of the reversal of this conformation is coupled to the closing of the Ca(2+)-induced open conformation of the N-domain of troponin C (cTnC) and an interaction between cTnC and cTnI in their interface. We have since extended the structural kinetic study of the inhibitory region to fully regulated thin filament. Single-tryptophan and single-cysteine mutant cTnI(L129W/S151C) was labeled with 1,5-IAEDANS at Cys151, and the tryptophan-AEDANS pair served as a donor-acceptor pair. Labeled cTnI mutant was used to prepare regulated thin filaments. Ca(2+)-induced conformational changes in the segment of Trp129-Cys151 of cTnI were monitored by FRET sensitized acceptor (AEDANS) emission in Ca(2+) titration and stopped-flow measurements. Control experiments suggested energy transfer from endogenous tryptophan residues of actin and myosin S1 to AEDANS attached to Cys151 of cTnI was very small and Ca(2+) independent. The present results show that the rate of Ca(2+)-induced structural transition and Ca(2+) sensitivity of the inhibitory region of cTnI were modified by (1) thin filament formation, (2) the presence of strongly bound S1, and (3) PKA phosphorylation of the N-terminus of cTnI. Ca(2+) sensitivity was not significantly changed by the presence of cTm and actin. However, the cTn-cTm interaction decreased the cooperativity and kinetics of the structural transition within cTnI, while actin filaments elicited opposite effects. The strongly bound S1 significantly increased the Ca(2+) sensitivity and slowed down the kinetics of structural transition. In contrast, PKA phosphorylation of cTnI decreased the Ca(2+) sensitivity and accelerated the structural transition rate of the inhibitory region of cTnI on thin filaments. These results support the idea of a feedback mechanism by strong cross-bridge interaction with actin and provide insights on the molecular basis for the fine tuning of cardiac function by beta-adrenergic stimulation.     

The importance of the carboxyl-terminal domain of cardiac troponin C in Ca2+-sensitive muscle regulation

The interactions between troponin I and troponin C are central to the Ca(2+)-regulated control of striated muscle. Using isothermal titration microcalorimetry we have studied the binding of human cardiac troponin C (cTnC) and its isolated domains to human cardiac troponin I (cTnI). We provide the first binding data for these proteins while they are free in solution and unmodified by reporter groups. Our data reveal that the C-terminal domain of cTnC is responsible for most of the free energy change upon cTnC.cTnI binding. Importantly, the interaction between cTnI and the C-terminal domain of cTnC is 8-fold stronger in the presence of Ca(2+) than in the presence of Mg(2+), suggesting that the C-terminal domain of cTnC may play a modulatory role in cardiac muscle regulation. Changes in the affinity of cTnI for cTnC and its isolated C-terminal domain in response to ionic strength support this finding, with both following similar trends. At physiological ionic strength the affinity of cTnC for cTnI changed very little in response to Ca(2+), although the thermodynamic data show a clear distinction between binding in the presence of Ca(2+) and in the presence of Mg(2+).     

The binding of W7, an inhibitor of striated muscle contraction, to cardiac troponin C

W7 is a well-characterized calmodulin antagonist. It decreases the maximal tension and rate of ATP hydrolysis in cardiac muscle fibers. Cardiac troponin C (cTnC) has been previously implicated as the mechanistically significant target for W7 in the myofilament. Two-dimensional NMR spectra ({1H,15N}- and {1H,13C}-HSQCs) were used to monitor the Ca2+-dependent binding of W7 to cTnC. Titration of cTnC x 3Ca2+ with W7 indicated binding to both domains of the protein. We examined the binding of W7 to the separated domains of cTnC to simplify the spectral analysis. In the titration of the C-terminal domain (cCTnC x 2Ca2+), the spectral peaks originating from a subset of residues changed nonuniformly, and could not be well-described as single-site binding. A global fit of the cCTnC x 2Ca2+ titration data to a two-site, sequential binding model (47 residues simultaneously fit) yielded a dissociation constant (Kd1) of 0.85-0.91 mM for the singly bound state, with the second dissociation constant fit to 3.40-3.65 mM (> or = 4 x Kd1). The titration data for the N-terminal domain (cNTnC x Ca2+) was globally fit to single-site binding model with a Kd of 0.15-0.30 mM (41 residues fit). The data are consistent with W7 binding to each domain's major hydrophobic pocket, coordinating side chains responsible for liganding cTnI. When in muscle fibers, W7 may compete with cTnI for target sites on cTnC.     

Ca(2+) induces an extended conformation of the inhibitory region of troponin I in cardiac muscle troponin.

The inhibitory region of troponin I (TnI) plays a central regulatory role in the contraction and relaxation cycle of skeletal and cardiac muscle through its Ca(2+)-dependent interaction with actin. Detailed structural information on the interface between TnC and this region of TnI has been long in dispute. We have used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to investigate the global conformation of the inhibitory region of a full-length TnI mutant from cardiac muscle (cTnI) in the unbound state and in reconstituted complexes with the other cardiac troponin subunits. The mutant contained a single tryptophan residue at the position 129 which was used as an energy transfer donor, and a single cysteine residue at the position 152 labeled with IAEDANS as energy acceptor. The sequence between Trp129 and Cys152 in cTnI brackets the inhibitory region (residues 130-149), and the distance between the two sites was found to be 19.4 A in free cTnI. This distance was insensitive to reconstitution of cTnI with cardiac troponin T (cTnT), cTnC, or cTnC and cTnT in the absence of bound regulatory Ca(2+) in cTnC. An increase of 9 A in the Trp129-Cys152 separation was observed upon saturation of the Ca(2+) regulatory site of cTnC in the complexes. This large increase suggests an extended conformation of the inhibitory region in the interface between cTnC and cTnI in holo cardiac troponin. This extended conformation is different from a recent model of the Ca(2+)-saturated skeletal TnI-TnC complex in which the inhibitory region is modeled as a beta-turn. The observed Ca(2+)-induced conformational change may be a switch mechanism by which movement of the regulatory region of cTnI to the exposed hydrophobic patch of the open regulatory N-domain of cTnC pulls the inhibitory region away from actin upon Ca(2+) activation in cardiac muscle.     

An NMR and spin label study of the effects of binding calcium and troponin I inhibitory peptide to cardiac troponin C.

The paramagnetic relaxation reagent, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (HyTEMPO), was used to probe the surface exposure of methionine residues of recombinant cardiac troponin C (cTnC) in the absence and presence of Ca2+ at the regulatory site (site II), as well as in the presence of the troponin I inhibitory peptide (cTnIp). Methyl resonances of the 10 Met residues of cTnC were chosen as spectral probes because they are thought to play a role in both formation of the N-terminal hydrophobic pocket and in the binding of cTnIp. Proton longitudinal relaxation rates (R1's) of the [13C-methyl] groups in [13C-methyl]Met-labeled cTnC(C35S) were determined using a T1 two-dimensional heteronuclear single- and multiple-quantum coherence pulse sequence. Solvent-exposed Met residues exhibit increased relaxation rates from the paramagnetic effect of HyTEMPO. Relaxation rates in 2Ca(2+)-loaded and Ca(2+)-saturated cTnC, both in the presence and absence of HyTEMPO, permitted the topological mapping of the conformational changes induced by the binding of Ca2+ to site II, the site responsible for triggering muscle contraction. Calcium binding at site II resulted in an increased exposure of Met residues 45 and 81 to the soluble spin label HyTEMPO. This result is consistent with an opening of the hydrophobic pocket in the N-terminal domain of cTnC upon binding Ca2+ at site II. The binding of the inhibitory peptide cTnIp, corresponding to Asn 129 through Ile 149 of cTnI, to both 2Ca(2+)-loaded and Ca(2+)-saturated cTnC was shown to protect Met residues 120 and 157 from HyTEMPO as determined by a decrease in their measured R1 values. These results suggest that in both the 2Ca(2+)-loaded and Ca(2+)-saturated forms of cTnC, cTnIp binds primarily to the C-terminal domain of cTnC.     

Conformation of the regulatory domain of cardiac muscle troponin C in its complex with cardiac troponin I.

Calcium activation of fast striated muscle results from an opening of the regulatory N-terminal domain of fast skeletal troponin C (fsTnC), and a substantial exposure of a hydrophobic patch, essential for Ca(2+)-dependent interaction with fast skeletal troponin I (fsTnI). This interaction is obligatory to relieve the inhibition of strong, force-generating actin-myosin interactions. We have determined intersite distances in the N-terminal domain of cardiac TnC (cTnC) by fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurements and found negligible increases in these distances when the single regulatory site is saturated with Ca(2+). However, in the presence of bound cardiac TnI (cTnI), activator Ca(2+) induces significant increases in the distances and a substantial opening of the N-domain. This open conformation within the cTnC.cTnI complex has properties favorable for the Ca(2+)-induced interaction with an additional segment of cTnI. Thus, the binding of cTnI to cTnC is a prerequisite to achieve a Ca(2+)-induced open N-domain similar to that previously observed in fsTnC with no bound fsTnI. This role of cardiac TnI has not been previously recognized. Our results also indicate that structural information derived from a single protein may not be sufficient for inference of a structure/function relationship.     

Phosphorylation and mutation of human cardiac troponin I deferentially destabilize the interaction of the functional regions of troponin I with troponin C

We have utilized 2D [(1)H,(15)N]HSQC NMR spectroscopy to elucidate the binding of three segments of cTnI in native, phosphorylated, and mutated states to cTnC. The near N-terminal region (cRp; residues 34-71) contains the protein kinase C (PKC) phosphorylation sites S41 and S43, the inhibitory region (cIp; residues 128-147) contains another PKC site T142 and a familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) mutation R144G, and the switch region (cSp; residues 147-163) contains the novel p21-activated kinase (PAK) site S149 and another FHC mutation R161W. While S41/S43 phosphorylation of cRp had minimal disruption in the interaction of cRp and cTnC.3Ca(2+), T142 phosphorylation reduced the affinity of cIp for cCTnC.2Ca(2+) by approximately 14-fold and S149 phosphorylation reduced the affinity of cSp for cNTnC.Ca(2+) by approximately 10-fold. The mutation R144G caused an approximately 6-fold affinity decrease of cIp for cCTnC.2Ca(2+) and mutation R161W destabilized the interaction of cSp and cNTnC.Ca(2+) by approximately 1.4-fold. When cIp was both T142 phosphorylated and R144G mutated, its affinity for cCTnC.2Ca(2+) was reduced approximately 19-fold, and when cSp was both S149 phosphorylated and R161W mutated, its affinity for cNTnC.Ca(2+) was reduced approximately 4-fold. Thus, while the FHC mutation R144G enhances the effect of T142 phosphorylation on the interaction of cIp and cCTnC.2Ca(2+), the FHC mutation R161W suppresses the effect of S149 phosphorylation on the interaction of cSp and cNTnC.Ca(2+), demonstrating linkages between the FHC mutation and phosphorylation of cTnI. The observed alterations corroborate well with structural data. These results suggest that while the modifications in the cRp region have minimal influence, those in the key functional cIp-cSp region have a pronounced effect on the interaction of cTnI and cTnC, which may correlate with the altered myofilament function and cardiac muscle contraction under pathophysiological conditions.