In vitro phosphorylation of bovine cardiac muscle high molecular weight calmodulin binding protein by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and dephosphorylation by calmodulin-dependent phosphatase

Calmodulin-binding proteins: A journey of 40 years

The proteins which bind to calmodulin in a Ca²⁺-dependent and reversible manner are known as calmodulin-binding proteins. These proteins are involved in a multitude of processes in which Ca²⁺ and calmodulin play crucial roles. Our group elucidated the mechanism and importance of these proteins in normal and diseased conditions. Various calmodulin-binding proteins were discovered and purified from bovine tissue including a heat stable calmodulin-binding protein 70, calmodulin-dependent protein kinase VI and a high molecular weight calmodulin-binding protein (HMWCaMBP). We observed a complex interplay occurs between these and other Ca²⁺ and calmodulin-binding proteins during cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Purified cardiac HMWCaMBP is a homolog form of calpastatin and an inhibitor of the Ca²⁺-activated cysteine proteases, calpains and therefore can have cardioprotective role in ischemic conditions. Calcineurin is a Ca²⁺ and calmodulin-dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase showed increased phosphatase activity in ischemic heart through its direct interaction with Hsp70 and expression of calcineurin following ischemia suggests self-repair and favorable survival outcomes. Calcineurin was also found to be present in other tissues including the eye; where its expression and calcineurin phosphatase activity varied. In neurons, calcineurin may play a key role in initiating apoptosis-related pathways especially in epilepsy. In colorectal cancer we demonstrated high calcineurin phosphatase activity and simultaneous overexpression of calcineurin. The impact of calcineurin signaling on neuronal apoptosis in epilepsy and its use as a diagnostic marker for colorectal cancer requires in-depth study.

Ischemia and reperfusion induce differential expression of calpastatin and its homologue high molecular weight calmodulin-binding protein in murine cardiomyocytes

In the heart, calpastatin (Calp) and its homologue high molecular weight calmodulin-binding protein (HMWCaMBP) regulate calpains (Calpn) by inhibition. A rise in intracellular myocardial Ca²⁺ during cardiac ischemia activates Calpn thereby causing damage to myocardial proteins, which leads to myocyte death and consequently to loss of myocardial structure and function. The present study aims to elucidate expression of Calp and HMWCaMBP with respect to Calpn during induced ischemia and reperfusion in primary murine cardiomyocyte cultures. Ischemia and subsequently reperfusion was induced in ∼80% confluent cultures of neonatal murine cardiomyocytes (NMCC). Flow cytometric analysis (FACS) has been used for analyzing protein expression concurrently with viability. Confocal fluorescent microscopy was used to observe protein localization. We observed that ischemia induces increased expression of Calp, HMWCaMBP and Calpn. Calpn expressing NMCC on co-expressing Calp survived ischemic induction compared to NMCC co-expressing HMWCaMBP. Similarly, living cells expressed Calp in contrast to dead cells which expressed HMWCaMBP following reperfusion. A significant difference in the expression of Calp and its homologue HMWCaMBP was observed in localization studies during ischemia. The current study adds to the existing knowledge that HMWCaMBP could be a putative isoform of Calp. NMCC on co-expressing Calp and Calpn-1 survived ischemic and reperfusion inductions compared to NMCC co-expressing HMWCaMBP and Calpn-1. A significant difference in expression of Calp and HMWCaMBP was observed in localization studies during ischemia.

Calmodulin: a prototypical calcium sensor

Calmodulin is the best studied and prototypical example of the E-F-hand family of Ca2+-sensing proteins. Changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration regulate calmodulin in three distinct ways. First, at the cellular level, by directing its subcellular distribution. Second, at the molecular level, by promoting different modes of association with many target proteins. Third, by directing a variety of conformational states in calmodulin that result in target-specific activation. The calmodulin-dependent regulation of protein kinases illustrates the potential mechanisms by which Ca2+-sensing proteins can recognize and generate affinity and specificity for effectors in a Ca2+-dependent manner.

Protein dephosphorylation rates in myocytes after isoproterenol withdrawal

Dephosphorylation of substrates for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase is essential for reversing the effects of this enzyme. It has been proposed that the relevant phosphatase(s) is stimulated by muscarinic cholinergic agonists, thereby accentuating cholinergic antagonism of beta-adrenergic agonists in the heart. To test this hypothesis, dephosphorylation of the three major substrates of cardiac cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (phospholamban, troponin-I, and C-protein) was examined. In isolated myocytes, isoproterenol caused concentration-dependent phosphorylation of these three proteins. Simultaneous exposure to acetylcholine with the isoproterenol caused a rightward shift in the concentration-response curve that was similar for protein phosphorylation in myocytes and for the inotropic response of the intact heart. The addition of propranolol after exposure to isoproterenol resulted in protein dephosphorylation, the onset of which was accelerated by acetylcholine. However, acetylcholine did not affect the rate of dephosphorylation for any of the proteins, indicating that phosphatase activity in cardiac muscle is not enhanced by acetylcholine.

Inhibition of calmodulin-stimulated (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity by dimethyl sulfoxide

Membrane-bound (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity from human erythrocyte white ghosts in the calmodulin-activated state was inhibited by DMSO in concentrations of 3% (v/v) and above. At 10%, DMSO inhibited calmodulin activation by 47.7%, while basal, calmodulin-independent (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase and (Mg2+)-ATPase activity remained unaffected. (Na+ + K+)-ATPase activity was also reduced but exhibited a greater IC50. Concentration-effect analyses showed the inhibition by 10% DMSO to be a reversible, non-competitive effect with regard to calmodulin, Ca2+, and substrate activation. Calmodulin-stimulated processes may be more susceptible to inhibition by DMSO than related enzymatic catalysis, and thus may help explain the multitude of reported cellular events caused by the solvent. Furthermore, DMSO affected membrane-associated enzymatic mechanisms opposite to those reported for purified enzyme outside its native membrane environment.