Myomesin and M-protein: expression of two M-band proteins in pectoral muscle and heart during development

Regular Exercise Rescues Heart Function Defects and Shortens the Lifespan of Drosophila Caused by dMnM Downregulation

Although studies have shown that myomesin 2 (MYOM2) mutations can lead to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a common cardiovascular disease that has a serious impact on human life, the effect of MYOM2 on cardiac function and lifespan in humans is unknown. In this study, dMnM (MYOM2 homologs) knockdown in cardiomyocytes resulted in diastolic cardiac defects (diastolic dysfunction and arrhythmias) and increased cardiac oxidative stress. Furthermore, the knockdown of dMnM in indirect flight muscle (IFM) reduced climbing ability and shortened lifespan. However, regular exercise significantly ameliorated diastolic cardiac dysfunction, arrhythmias, and oxidative stress triggered by dMnM knockdown in cardiac myocytes and also reversed the reduction in climbing ability and shortening of lifespan caused by dMnM knockdown in Drosophila IFM. In conclusion, these results suggest that Drosophila cardiomyocyte dMnM knockdown leads to cardiac functional defects, while dMnM knockdown in IFM affects climbing ability and lifespan. Furthermore, regular exercise effectively upregulates cardiomyocyte dMnM expression levels and ameliorates cardiac functional defects caused by Drosophila cardiomyocyte dMnM knockdown by increasing cardiac antioxidant capacity. Importantly, regular exercise ameliorates the shortened lifespan caused by dMnM knockdown in IFM.

Proteomic Analysis of Decellularized Extracellular Matrix: Achieving a Competent Biomaterial for Osteogenesis

Decellularized ECMs have been used as biological scaffolds for tissue repair due to their tissue-specific biochemical and mechanical composition, poorly simulated by other materials. It is used as patches and powders, and it could be further processed via enzymatic digestion under acidic conditions using pepsin. However, part of the bioactivity is lost during the digestion process due to protein denaturation. Here, stepwise digestion was developed to prepare a competent biomaterial for osteogenesis from three different ECM sources. In addition, three different proteases were compared to evaluate the most effective digestion protocol for specific cellular processes. GAGs and peptide quantification showed that the stepwise method yielded a higher concentration of bioactive residues. Circular dichroism analysis also showed that the stepwise approach preserved the secondary structures better. The protein profiles of the digested ECMs were analyzed, and it was found to be highly diverse and tissue-specific. The digestion of ECM from pericardium produced peptides originated from 94 different proteins, followed by 48 proteins in ECM from tendon and 35 proteins in ECM from bone. In addition, digested products from pericardium ECM yielded increased proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to mature osteoblasts.

Case Report: Tetralogy of Fallot in a Chinese Family Caused by a Novel Missense Variant of MYOM2

Background

Rare genetic variants have been identified to be important contributors to the risk of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), the most common cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). But relatively limited familial studies with small numbers of TOF cases have been reported to date. In this study, we aimed to identify novel pathogenic genes and variants that caused TOF in a Chinese family using whole exome sequencing (WES).

Methods

A Chinese family whose twins were affected by TOF were recruited for this study. A WES was performed for the affected twins, their healthy brother, and parents to identify the potential pathogenic mutated gene(s). Heterozygous variants carried by the twins, but not the unaffected brother, were retained. Public databases were used to assess the frequencies of the selected variants, and online prediction tools were accessed to predict the influences of these variants on protein function. The final candidate variant was further confirmed by Sanger sequencing in other members of the family.

Results

After several filtering processes, a heterozygous missense variant in the MYOM2 gene (NM_003970.4:c.3097C>T:p.R1033C) was identified and confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the affected twins and their unaffected father, suggesting an inheritance pattern with incomplete penetrance. The variant was found to be extremely rare in the public databases. Furthermore, the mutated site was highly conserved among mammals, and as shown using multiple online prediction tools, this variant was predicted to be a detrimental variant.

Conclusion

We assessed a family with TOF caused by a rare heterozygous missense variant of MYOM2. Our findings not only further confirm the significant role of genetics in the incidence of TOF but also expand the spectrum of the gene variants that lead to TOF.

The role of the M-band myomesin proteins in muscle integrity and cardiac disease

Transversal structural elements in cross-striated muscles, such as the M-band or the Z-disc, anchor and mechanically stabilize the contractile apparatus and its minimal unit—the sarcomere. The ability of proteins to target and interact with these structural sarcomeric elements is an inevitable necessity for the correct assembly and functionality of the myofibrillar apparatus. Specifically, the M-band is a well-recognized mechanical and signaling hub dealing with active forces during contraction, while impairment of its function leads to disease and death. Research on the M-band architecture is focusing on the assembly and interactions of the three major filamentous proteins in the region, mainly the three myomesin proteins including their embryonic heart (EH) isoform, titin and obscurin. These proteins form the basic filamentous network of the M-band, interacting with each other as also with additional proteins in the region that are involved in signaling, energetic or mechanosensitive processes. While myomesin-1, titin and obscurin are found in every muscle, the expression levels of myomesin-2 (also known as M-protein) and myomesin-3 are tissue specific: myomesin-2 is mainly expressed in the cardiac and fast skeletal muscles, while myomesin-3 is mainly expressed in intermediate muscles and specific regions of the cardiac muscle. Furthermore, EH-myomesin apart from its role during embryonic stages, is present in adults with specific cardiac diseases. The current work in structural, molecular, and cellular biology as well as in animal models, provides important details about the assembly of myomesin-1, obscurin and titin, the information however about the myomesin-2 and -3, such as their interactions, localization and structural details remain very limited. Remarkably, an increasing number of reports is linking all three myomesin proteins and particularly myomesin-2 to serious cardiovascular diseases suggesting that this protein family could be more important than originally thought. In this review we will focus on the myomesin protein family, the myomesin interactions and structural differences between isoforms and we will provide the most recent evidence why the structurally and biophysically unexplored myomesin-2 and myomesin-3 are emerging as hot targets for understanding muscle function and disease.

An Unbiased Proteomics Method to Assess the Maturation of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

RATIONALE

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes exhibit the properties of fetal cardiomyocytes, which limits their applications. Various methods have been used to promote maturation of hPSC-cardiomyocytes; however, there is a lack of an unbiased and comprehensive method for accurate assessment of the maturity of hPSC-cardiomyocytes.

OBJECTIVE

We aim to develop an unbiased proteomics strategy integrating high-throughput top-down targeted proteomics and bottom-up global proteomics for the accurate and comprehensive assessment of hPSC-cardiomyocyte maturation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Utilizing hPSC-cardiomyocytes from early- and late-stage 2-dimensional monolayer culture and 3-dimensional engineered cardiac tissue, we demonstrated the high reproducibility and reliability of a top-down proteomics method, which enabled simultaneous quantification of contractile protein isoform expression and associated post-translational modifications. This method allowed for the detection of known maturation-associated contractile protein alterations and, for the first time, identified contractile protein post-translational modifications as promising new markers of hPSC-cardiomyocytes maturation. Most notably, decreased phosphorylation of α-tropomyosin was found to be associated with hPSC-cardiomyocyte maturation. By employing a bottom-up global proteomics strategy, we identified candidate maturation-associated markers important for sarcomere organization, cardiac excitability, and Ca²⁺ homeostasis. In particular, upregulation of myomesin 1 and transmembrane 65 was associated with hPSC-cardiomyocyte maturation and validated in cardiac development, making these promising markers for assessing maturity of hPSC-cardiomyocytes. We have further validated α-actinin isoforms, phospholamban, dystrophin, αB-crystallin, and calsequestrin 2 as novel maturation-associated markers, in the developing mouse cardiac ventricles.

CONCLUSIONS

We established an unbiased proteomics method that can provide accurate and specific assessment of the maturity of hPSC-cardiomyocytes and identified new markers of maturation. Furthermore, this integrated proteomics strategy laid a strong foundation for uncovering the molecular pathways involved in cardiac development and disease using hPSC-cardiomyocytes.

Scanning the genomes of parents for imprinted loci acting in their un-genotyped progeny

Depending on their parental origin, alleles at imprinted loci are fully or partially inactivated through epigenetic mechanisms. Their effects contribute to the broader class of parent-of-origin effects. Standard methodology for mapping imprinted quantitative trait loci in association studies requires phenotypes and parental origin of marker alleles (ordered genotypes) to be simultaneously known for each individual. As such, many phenotypes are known from un-genotyped offspring in ongoing breeding programmes (e.g. meat animals), while their parents have known genotypes but no phenotypes. By theoretical considerations and simulations, we showed that the limitations of standard methodology can be overcome in such situations. This is achieved by first estimating parent-of-origin effects, which then serve as dependent variables in association analyses, in which only imprinted loci give a signal. As a theoretical foundation, the regression of parent-of-origin effects on the number of B-alleles at a biallelic locus — representing the un-ordered genotype — equals the imprinting effect. The applicability to real data was demonstrated for about 1800 genotyped Brown Swiss bulls and their un-genotyped fattening progeny. Thus, this approach unlocks vast data resources in various species for imprinting analyses and offers valuable clues as to what extent imprinted loci contribute to genetic variability.

HSP90 modulates the myosin replacement rate in myofibrils

Myosin is a major myofibrillar component in skeletal muscles. In myofibrils, ~300 myosin molecules form a single thick filament in which there is constant turnover of myosin. Our previous study demonstrated that the myosin replacement rate is reduced by inhibition of protein synthesis (Ojima K, Ichimura E, Yasukawa Y, Wakamatsu J, Nishimura T, Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 309: C669-C679, 2015); however, additional factors influencing myosin replacement were unknown. Here, we showed that rapid myosin replacement requires heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) activity. We utilized the fluorescence recovery after photobleaching technique to measure the replacement rate of green fluorescent protein-fused myosin heavy chain (GFP-MYH) in myotubes overexpressing HSP90. Intriguingly, the myosin replacement rate was significantly increased in HSP90-overexpressing myotubes, whereas the myosin replacement rate slowed markedly in the presence of an HSP90-specific inhibitor, indicating that HSP90 activity promotes myosin replacement. To determine the mechanism of this effect, we investigated whether HSP90 activity increased the amount of myosin available for incorporation into myofibrils. Strikingly, the gene expression levels of MYHs were significantly elevated by HSP90 overexpression but downregulated by inhibition of HSP90 activity. Cytosolic myosin content was also increased in myotubes overexpressing HSP90. Taken together, our results demonstrate that HSP90 activity facilitates myosin replacement by upregulating MYH gene expression and thereby increasing cytosolic myosin content.

Thick Filament Protein Network, Functions, and Disease Association

Sarcomeres consist of highly ordered arrays of thick myosin and thin actin filaments along with accessory proteins. Thick filaments occupy the center of sarcomeres where they partially overlap with thin filaments. The sliding of thick filaments past thin filaments is a highly regulated process that occurs in an ATP-dependent manner driving muscle contraction. In addition to myosin that makes up the backbone of the thick filament, four other proteins which are intimately bound to the thick filament, myosin binding protein-C, titin, myomesin, and obscurin play important structural and regulatory roles. Consistent with this, mutations in the respective genes have been associated with idiopathic and congenital forms of skeletal and cardiac myopathies. In this review, we aim to summarize our current knowledge on the molecular structure, subcellular localization, interacting partners, function, modulation via posttranslational modifications, and disease involvement of these five major proteins that comprise the thick filament of striated muscle cells. © 2018 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 8:631-709, 2018.

The sarcomeric M-region: a molecular command center for diverse cellular processes

The sarcomeric M-region anchors thick filaments and withstands the mechanical stress of contractions by deformation, thus enabling distribution of physiological forces along the length of thick filaments. While the role of the M-region in supporting myofibrillar structure and contractility is well established, its role in mediating additional cellular processes has only recently started to emerge. As such, M-region is the hub of key protein players contributing to cytoskeletal remodeling, signal transduction, mechanosensing, metabolism, and proteasomal degradation. Mutations in genes encoding M-region related proteins lead to development of severe and lethal cardiac and skeletal myopathies affecting mankind. Herein, we describe the main cellular processes taking place at the M-region, other than thick filament assembly, and discuss human myopathies associated with mutant or truncated M-region proteins.

Titin visualization in real time reveals an unexpected level of mobility within and between sarcomeres

Contrary to prior models in which titin serves as a stable scaffold in sarcomeres, sarcomeric and soluble titin exchange dynamically in myofibers when calcium levels are low.

The giant muscle protein titin is an essential structural component of the sarcomere. It forms a continuous periodic backbone along the myofiber that provides resistance to mechanical strain. Thus, the titin filament has been regarded as a blueprint for sarcomere assembly and a prerequisite for stability. Here, a novel titin-eGFP knockin mouse provided evidence that sarcomeric titin is more dynamic than previously suggested. To study the mobility of titin in embryonic and neonatal cardiomyocytes, we used fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and investigated the contribution of protein synthesis, contractility, and calcium load to titin motility. Overall, the kinetics of lateral and longitudinal movement of titin-eGFP were similar. Whereas protein synthesis and developmental stage did not alter titin dynamics, there was a strong, inhibitory effect of calcium on titin mobility. Our results suggest a model in which the largely unrestricted movement of titin within and between sarcomeres primarily depends on calcium, suggesting that fortification of the titin filament system is activity dependent.

EH-myomesin splice isoform is a novel marker for dilated cardiomyopathy

The M-band is the prominent cytoskeletal structure that cross-links the myosin and titin filaments in the middle of the sarcomere. To investigate M-band alterations in heart disease, we analyzed the expression of its main components, proteins of the myomesin family, in mouse and human cardiomyopathy. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography and compared to the expression pattern of myomesins evaluated with RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescent analysis. Disease progression in transgenic mouse models for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was accompanied by specific M-band alterations. The dominant splice isoform in the embryonic heart, EH-myomesin, was strongly up-regulated in the failing heart and correlated with a decrease in cardiac function (R = −0.86). In addition, we have analyzed the expressions of myomesins in human myocardial biopsies (N = 40) obtained from DCM patients, DCM patients supported by a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients and controls. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed that the EH-myomesin isoform was up-regulated 41-fold (P < 0.001) in the DCM patients compared to control patients. In DCM hearts supported by a LVAD and HCM hearts, the EH-myomesin expression was comparable to controls. Immunofluorescent analyses indicate that EH-myomesin was enhanced in a cell-specific manner, leading to a higher heterogeneity of the myocytes’ cytoskeleton through the myocardial wall. We suggest that the up-regulation of EH-myomesin denotes an adaptive remodeling of the sarcomere cytoskeleton in the dilated heart and might serve as a marker for DCM in mouse and human myocardium.

Three-dimensional structure of the M-region (bare zone) of vertebrate striated muscle myosin filaments by single-particle analysis

The rods of anti-parallel myosin molecules overlap at the centre of bipolar myosin filaments to produce an M-region (bare zone) that is free of myosin heads. Beyond the M-region edges, myosin molecules aggregate in a parallel fashion to yield the bridge regions of the myosin filaments. Adjacent myosin filaments in striated muscle A-bands are cross-linked by the M-band. Vertebrate striated muscle myosin filaments have a 3-fold rotational symmetry around their long axes. In addition, at the centre of the M-region, there are three 2-fold axes perpendicular to the filament long axis, giving the whole filament dihedral 32-point group symmetry. Here we describe the three-dimensional structure obtained by a single-particle analysis of the M-region of myosin filaments from goldfish skeletal muscle under relaxing conditions and as viewed in negative stain. This is the first single-particle reconstruction of isolated M-regions. The resulting three-dimensional reconstruction reveals details to about 55 Å resolution of the density distribution in the five main nonmyosin densities in the M-band (M6′, M4′, M1, M4 and M6) and in the myosin head crowns (P1, P2 and P3) at the M-region edges. The outermost crowns in the reconstruction were identified specifically by their close similarity to the corresponding crown levels in our previously published bridge region reconstructions. The packing of myosin molecules into the M-region structure is discussed, and some unidentified densities are highlighted.

Nonmuscle myosin IIB, a sarcomeric component in the extraocular muscles

Extraocular muscles (EOMs) are categorized as skeletal muscles; however, emerging evidence indicates that their gene expression profile, metabolic characteristics and functional properties are significantly different from the prototypical members of this muscle class. Gene expression profiling of developing and adult EOM suggest that many myofilament and cytoskeletal proteins have unique expression patterns in EOMs, including the maintained expression of embryonic and fetal isoforms of myosin heavy chains (MyHC), the presence of a unique EOM specific MyHC and mixtures of both cardiac and skeletal muscle isoforms of thick and thin filament accessory proteins. We demonstrate that nonmuscle myosin IIB (nmMyH IIB) is a sarcomeric component in approximately 20% of the global layer fibers in adult rat EOMs. Comparisons of the myofibrillar distribution of nmMyHC IIB with sarcomeric MyHCs indicate that nmMyH IIB co-exists with slow MyHC isoforms. In longitudinal sections of adult rat EOM, nmMyHC IIB appears to be restricted to the A-bands. Although nmMyHC IIB has been previously identified as a component of skeletal and cardiac sarcomeres at the level of the Z-line, the novel distribution of this protein within the A band in EOMs is further evidence of both the EOMs complexity and unconventional phenotype.

Nuclear localization of Myomesin-1: possible functions

Myomesin-I (also known as Skelemin) is a approximately 185 kDa protein, which is highly expressed in striated muscle. It contains the prototypic class-I (type-III fibronectin) and class-II (C2-immunoglobulin) motifs. Previous studies have shown the presence of Myomesin-I at the M-line of the sarcomere, where it is thought to interact with thick filament constituents. As reported previously, Myomesin-I was localized to the M-line in the adult cardiac myocytes (adult-myocytes). However, we found that Myomesin-I was also present exclusively in the nucleus of myocytes isolated from new born pups (neonatal-myocytes). In addition, the ectopically expressed Myomesin-I was primarily targeted to the nucleus, similar to the neonatal myocytes. Further investigations revealed that the nuclear-targeting signals were present within the N-terminal 256 residues. A strong consensus sequence for sumoylation is present within the N-terminal 256 residues and is implicated in the shuttling of Myomesin-I between nucleus and cytoplasm. Gene array analysis showed that the presence of Myomesin-I in the nucleus led to the differential expression of more than 42 genes. These studies show a novel and previously unknown localization and function for Myomesin-I.

The bHLH/Per-Arnt-Sim transcription factor SIM2 regulates muscle transcript myomesin2 via a novel, non-canonical E-box sequence

Despite a growing number of descriptive studies that show Single-minded 2 (Sim2) is not only essential for murine survival, but also upregulated in colon, prostate and pancreatic tumours, there is a lack of direct target genes identified for this basic helix-loop-helix/PAS transcription factor. We have performed a set of microarray experiments aimed at identifying genes that are differentially regulated by SIM2, and successfully verified that the Myomesin2 (Myom2) gene is SIM2-responsive. Although SIM2 has been reported to be a transcription repressor, we find that SIM2 induces transcription of Myom2 and activates the Myom2 promoter sequence when co-expressed with the heterodimeric partner protein, ARNT1, in human embryonic kidney cells. Truncation and mutation of the Myom2 promoter sequence, combined with chromatin immunoprecipitation studies in cells, has lead to the delineation of a non-canonical E-box sequence 5'-AACGTG-3' that is bound by SIM2/ARNT1 heterodimers. Interestingly, in immortalized human myoblasts knock down of Sim2 results in increased levels of Myom2 RNA, suggesting that SIM2 is acting as a repressor in these cells and so its activity is likely to be highly context dependent. This is the first report of a direct SIM2/ARNT1 target gene with accompanying analysis of a functional response element.

Myomesin 3, a novel structural component of the M-band in striated muscle

The M-band is the cytoskeletal structure that cross-links the myosin and titin filaments in the middle of the sarcomere. Apart from the myosin tails and the C-termini of titin, only two closely related structural proteins had been detected at the M-band so far, myomesin and M-protein. However, electron microscopy studies revealed structural features that do not correlate with the expression of these two proteins, indicating the presence of unknown constituents in the M-band. Using comparative sequence analysis, we have identified a third member of this gene family, myomesin 3, and characterised its biological properties. Myomesin 3 is predicted to consist of a unique head domain followed by a conserved sequence of either fibronectin- or immunoglobulin-like domains, similarly to myomesin 3 and M-protein. While all three members of the myomesin family are localised to the M-band of the sarcomere, each member shows its specific expression pattern. In contrast to myomesin, which is ubiquitously expressed in all striated muscles, and M-protein, whose expression is restricted to adult heart and fast-twitch skeletal muscle, myomesin 3 can be detected mainly in intermediate speed fibers of skeletal muscle. In analogy to myomesin, myomesin 3 targets to the M-band region of the sarcomere via its N-terminal part and forms homodimers via its C-terminal domain. However, despite the high degree of homology, no heterodimer between distinct members of the myomesin gene family can be detected. We propose that each member of the myomesin family is a component of one of the distinct ultrastructures, the M-lines, which modulate the mechanical properties of the M-bands in different muscle types.

M-band: a safeguard for sarcomere stability?

The sarcomere of striated muscle is a very efficient machine transforming chemical energy into movement. However, a wrong distribution of the generated forces may lead to self-destruction of the engine itself. A well-known example for this is eccentric contraction (elongation of the sarcomere in the activated state), which damages sarcomeric structure and leads to a reduced muscle performance. The goal of this review is to discuss the involvement of different cytoskeletal systems, in particular the M-band filaments, in the mechanisms that provide stability during sarcomeric contraction. The M-band is the transverse structure in the center of the sarcomeric A-band, which is responsible both for the regular packing of thick filaments and for the uniform distribution of the tension over the myosin filament lattice in the activated sarcomere. Although some proteins from the Ig-superfamily, like myomesin and M-protein, are the major candidates for the role of M-band bridges, the exact molecular organisation of the M-band is not clear. However, the protein composition of the M-band seems to modulate the mechanical characteristics of the thick filament lattice, in particular its stiffness, adjusting it to the specific demands in different muscle types. The special M-band design in slow fibers might be part of structural adaptations, favouring sarcomere stability for a continuous contractile activity over a broad working range. In conclusion, we discuss why the interference with M-band structure might have fatal consequences for the integrity of the working sarcomere.

The molecular composition of the sarcomeric M-band correlates with muscle fiber type

The M-band is the transverse structure that cross-links the thick filaments in the center and provides a perfect alignment of the A-band in the activated sarcomere. The molecular composition of the M-bands in adult mouse skeletal muscle is fiber-type dependent. All M-bands in fast fibers contain M-protein while M-bands in slow fibers contain a significant proportion of the EH-myomesin isoform, previously detected only in embryonic heart muscle. This fiber-type specificity develops during the first postnatal weeks. However, the ratio between the amounts of myosin and of myomesin, taken as sum of both isoforms, remains nearly constant in all studied muscles. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrates that some of the soleus fibers show a diffuse appearance of the M-band, resembling the situation in the embryonic heart. A model is proposed to explain the functional consequence of differential M-band composition for the physiological and morphological properties of sarcomeres in different muscle types.

Muscle-type creatine kinase interacts with central domains of the M-band proteins myomesin and M-protein

Muscle-type creatine kinase (MM-CK) is a member of the CK isoenzyme family with key functions in cellular energetics. MM-CK interacts in an isoform-specific manner with the M-band of sarcomeric muscle, where it serves as an efficient intramyofibrillar ATP-regenerating system for the actin-activated myosin ATPase located nearby on both sides of the M-band. Four MM-CK-specific and highly conserved lysine residues are thought to be responsible for the interaction of MM-CK with the M-band. A yeast two-hybrid screen led to the identification of MM-CK as a binding partner of a central portion of myomesin (My7-8). An interaction was observed with domains six to eight of the closely related M-protein but not with several other Ig-like domains, including an M-band domain, of titin. The observed interactions were corroborated and characterised in detail by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy (BiaCore). In both cases, they were CK isoform-specific and the MM-CK-specific lysine residues (K8. K24, K104 and K115) are involved in this interaction. At pH 6.8, the dissociation constants for the myomesin/MM-CK and the M-protein/MM-CK binding were in the range of 50-100 nM and around 1 microM, respectively. The binding showed pronounced pH-dependence and indicates a dynamic association/dissociation behaviour, which most likely depends on the energy state of the muscle. Our data propose a simple model for the regulation of this dynamic interaction.

Postnatal suppression of myomesin, muscle creatine kinase and the M-line in rat extraocular muscle

The M-line and its associated creatine kinase (CK) M-isoform (CK-M) are ubiquitous features of skeletal and cardiac muscle. The M-line maintains myosin myofilaments in register, links the contractile apparatus to the cytoskeleton for external force transfer and localizes CK-based energy storage and transfer to the site of highest ATP demand. We establish here that the muscle group responsible for movements of the eye, extraocular muscle (EOM), is divergent from other striated muscles in lacking both an M-line and its associated CK-M. Although an M-line forms during myogenesis, both in vivo and in vitro, it is actively repressed after birth. Transcripts of the major M-line structural proteins, myomesin 1 and myomesin 2, follow the same pattern of postnatal downregulation, while the embryonic heart-specific EH-myomesin 1 transcript is expressed early and retained in adult eye muscle. By immunocytochemistry, myomesin protein is absent from adult EOM sarcomeres. M-line suppression does not occur in organotypic co-culture with oculomotor motoneurons, suggesting that the mechanism for suppression may lie in muscle group-specific activation or workload patterns experienced only in vivo. The M-line is, however, still lost in dark-reared rats, despite the developmental delay this paradigm produces in the visuomotor system and EOMs. EOM was low in all CK isoform transcripts except for the sarcomeric mitochondrial (Ckmt2) isoform. Total CK enzyme activity of EOM was one-third that of hindlimb muscle. These findings are singularly unique among fast-twitch skeletal muscles. Since EOM exhibits isoform diversity for other sarcomeric proteins, the M-line/CK-M divergence probably represents a key physiological adaptation for the unique energetics and functional demands placed on this muscle group in voluntary and reflexive eye movements.

The complete mouse nebulin gene sequence and the identification of cardiac nebulin

Nebulin is a giant (M(r) 750-850kDa), modular sarcomeric protein proposed to regulate the assembly, and to specify the precise lengths of actin (thin) filaments in vertebrate skeletal muscles. Nebulin's potential role as a molecular template is based on its structural and biochemical properties. Its central approximately 700kDa portion associates with actin along the entire length of the thin filament, its N-terminal region extends to thin filament pointed ends, and approximately 80kDa of its C-terminal region integrates within the Z-line lattice. Here, we determined the exon/intron organization of the entire mouse nebulin gene, which contains 165 exons in a 202kb segment. We identified 16 novel exons, 15 of which encode nebulin-repeat motifs (12 from its central region and 3 from its Z-line region). One novel exon shares high sequence homology to the 20 residue repeats of the tight-junction protein, ZO-1. RT-PCR analyses revealed that all 16 novel exons are expressed in mouse skeletal muscle. Surprisingly, we also amplified mRNA transcripts from mouse and human heart cDNA using primers designed along the entire length of nebulin. The expression of cardiac-specific nebulin transcripts was confirmed by in situ hybridization in fetal rat cardiomyocytes and in embryonic Xenopus laevis (frog) heart. On the protein level, antibodies specific for skeletal muscle nebulin's N and C-terminal regions stained isolated rat cardiac myofibrils at the pointed and barbed ends of thin filaments, respectively. These data indicate a conserved molecular layout of the nebulin filament systems in both cardiac and skeletal myofibrils. We propose that thin filament length regulation in cardiac and skeletal muscles may share conserved nebulin-based mechanisms, and that nebulin isoform diversity may contribute to thin filament length differences in cardiac and skeletal muscle.

Molecular dissection of the interaction of desmin with the C-terminal region of nebulin

In vertebrate skeletal muscle, ultrastructural studies have suggested that the Z-line and extracellular intermediate filaments are linked, although a structural basis for this has remained elusive. We searched for potential novel ligands of the Z-line portion of nebulin by a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) approach. This identified that the nebulin modules M160 to M170 interact with desmin. In desmin, deletion series experiments assigned a 19-kDa central coiled-coil domain as the nebulin-binding site. The specific interactions of nebulin and desmin were confirmed in vitro by GST pull-down experiments. In situ, the nebulin modules M176 to M181 colocalize with desmin in a Z-line-associated, striated pattern as shown by immunofluorescence studies. Our data are consistent with a model that desmin attaches directly to the Z-line through its interaction with the nebulin repeats M163-M170. This interaction may link myofibrillar Z-discs to the intermediate filament system, thereby forming a lateral linkage system which contributes to maintain adjacent Z-lines in register.

The complete gene sequence of titin, expression of an unusual approximately 700-kDa titin isoform, and its interaction with obscurin identify a novel Z-line to I-band linking system

Titin is a giant vertebrate striated muscle protein with critical importance for myofibril elasticity and structural integrity. We show here that the complete sequence of the human titin gene contains 363 exons, which together code for 38 138 residues (4200 kDa). In its central I-band region, 47 novel PEVK exons were found, which contribute to titin's extensible spring properties. Additionally, 3 unique I-band titin exons were identified (named novex-1 to -3). Novex-3 functions as an alternative titin C-terminus. The novex-3 titin isoform is approximately 700 kDa in size and spans from Z1-Z2 (titin's N-terminus) to novex-3 (C-terminal exon). Novex-3 titin specifically interacts with obscurin, a 721-kDa myofibrillar protein composed of 57 Ig/FN3 domains, followed by one IQ, SH3, DH, and a PH domain at its C-terminus. The obscurin domains Ig48/Ig49 bind to novex-3 titin and target to the Z-line region when expressed as a GFP fusion protein in live cardiac myocytes. Immunoelectron microscopy detected the C-terminal Ig48/Ig49 obscurin epitope near the Z-line edge. The distance from the Z-line varied with sarcomere length, suggesting that the novex-3 titin/obscurin complex forms an elastic Z-disc to I-band linking system. This system could link together calcium-dependent, SH3-, and GTPase-regulated signaling pathways in close proximity to the Z-disc, a structure increasingly implicated in the restructuring of sarcomeres during cardiomyopathies.

Myopalladin, a novel 145-kilodalton sarcomeric protein with multiple roles in Z-disc and I-band protein assemblies

We describe here a novel sarcomeric 145-kD protein, myopalladin, which tethers together the COOH-terminal Src homology 3 domains of nebulin and nebulette with the EF hand motifs of alpha-actinin in vertebrate Z-lines. Myopalladin's nebulin/nebulette and alpha-actinin-binding sites are contained in two distinct regions within its COOH-terminal 90-kD domain. Both sites are highly homologous with those found in palladin, a protein described recently required for actin cytoskeletal assembly (Parast, M.M., and C.A. Otey. 2000. J. Cell Biol. 150:643-656). This suggests that palladin and myopalladin may have conserved roles in stress fiber and Z-line assembly. The NH(2)-terminal region of myopalladin specifically binds to the cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP), a nuclear protein involved in control of muscle gene expression. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy studies revealed that myopalladin also colocalized with CARP in the central I-band of striated muscle sarcomeres. Overexpression of myopalladin's NH(2)-terminal CARP-binding region in live cardiac myocytes resulted in severe disruption of all sarcomeric components studied, suggesting that the myopalladin-CARP complex in the central I-band may have an important regulatory role in maintaining sarcomeric integrity. Our data also suggest that myopalladin may link regulatory mechanisms involved in Z-line structure (via alpha-actinin and nebulin/nebulette) to those involved in muscle gene expression (via CARP).

Differential assembly of alpha- and gamma-filagenins into thick filaments in Caenorhabditis elegans

Muscle thick filaments are highly organized supramolecular assemblies of myosin and associated proteins with lengths, diameters and flexural rigidities characteristic of their source. The cores of body wall muscle thick filaments of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans are tubular structures of paramyosin sub-filaments coupled by filagenins and have been proposed to serve as templates for the assembly of native thick filaments. We have characterized alpha- and gamma-filagenins, two novel proteins of the cores with calculated molecular masses of 30,043 and 19,601 and isoelectric points of 10.52 and 11.49, respectively. Western blot and immunoelectron microscopy using affinity-purified antibodies confirmed that the two proteins are core components. Immunoelectron microscopy of the cores revealed that they assemble with different periodicities. Immunofluorescence microscopy showed that alpha-filagenin is localized in the medial regions of the A-bands of body wall muscle cells whereas gamma-filagenin is localized in the flanking regions, and that alpha-filagenin is expressed in 1.5-twofold embryos while gamma-filagenin becomes detectable only in late vermiform embryos. The expression of both proteins continues throughout later stages of development. C. elegans body wall muscle thick filaments of these developmental stages have distinct lengths. Our results suggest that the differential assembly of alpha- and gamma-filagenins into thick filaments of distinct lengths may be developmentally regulated.

A novel marker for vertebrate embryonic heart, the EH-myomesin isoform

Myomesin is a structural component of the M-band that is expressed in all types of striated muscle. Its primary function may be the maintenance of the thick filament lattice and its anchoring to the elastic filament system composed of titin. Different myomesin isoforms have been described in chicken and mice, but no particular function has been assigned to them. Here we investigate the spatio-temporal expression pattern of myomesin isoforms by means of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and isoform-specific antibodies. We find that two alternative splicing events give rise to four myomesin isoforms in chicken contrary to only one splicing event with two possible isoforms in mice. A splicing event at the C terminus results in two splice variants termed H-myomesin and S-myomesin, which represent the major myomesin species in heart and skeletal muscle of avian species, respectively. In contrast, in mammalian heart and skeletal muscle only S-myomesin is expressed. In embryonic heart of birds and mammals, alternative splicing in the central part of the molecule gives rise to the isoform that we termed EH-myomesin. It represents the major myomesin isoform at early embryonic stages of heart but is rapidly down-regulated around birth. Thus, the strict developmental regulation of the EH-myomesin makes it an ideally suited marker for embryonic heart.

Modulation of sarcomere organization during embryonic stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte differentiation

Myofibrillogenesis - sarcomeres - mouse embryonic stem cells - cardiomyocytes - beta1 integrin Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, when cultivated as embryoid bodies, differentiate in vitro into cardiomyocytes of ventricle-, atrium- and pacemaker-like cell types characterized by developmentally controlled expression of cardiac-specific genes, structural proteins and ion channels. Using this model system, we show here, (I) that during cardiac myofibrillogenesis sarcomeric proteins are organized in a developmentally regulated manner following the order: titin (Z-disk), alpha-actinin, myomesin, titin (M-band), myosin heavy chain, alpha-actin, cardiac troponin T and M-protein, recapitulating the sarcomeric organization in the chicken embryonal heart in vivo. Our data support the view that the formation of I-Z-I complexes is developmentally delayed with respect to A-band assembly. We show (2) that the process of cardiogenic differentiation in vitro is influenced by medium components: Using a culture medium supplemented with glucose, amino acids, vitamins and selenium ions, we were able to increase the efficiency of cardiac differentiation of wild-type, as well as of beta1 integrin-deficient (beta1-/-) ES cells, and to improve the degree of organization of sarcomeric structures in wild-type and in beta1-/- cardiac cells. The data demonstrate the plasticity of cardiogenesis during the differentiation of wild-type and of genetically modified ES cells.

Rapid post-mortem glycolysis and delay chilling of turkey carcasses cause alterations to protein extractability and degradation of breast muscle proteins

SDS-PAGE banding patterns of myofibrillar protein samples from turkey breast muscle with pH < or =5.8 at 15 min post-mortem (rapid glycolyzing) contained 133, 142, and 165 kDa bands that were absent in samples from carcasses with pH >6.0 at 15 min post-mortem (normal glycolyzing). These extra protein bands contained fragments of myosin as identified by Western blot analysis. Myosin fragments were also observed in protein samples from breast muscle not allowed to cool until 110 min post-mortem (delay chilled). In addition to myosin degradation, neublin degradation was more extensive in samples from rapid glycolyzing carcasses than for normal controls. Creatine kinase and glycogen phosphorylase were present in myofibrillar protein extracts of rapid glycolyzing carcasses in higher quantities than in normal controls. Results of this study provide insight into the molecular basis for previously reported reductions in meat quality of rapid glycolyzing and delay chilled turkey meat.

Different domains of the M-band protein myomesin are involved in myosin binding and M-band targeting

Myomesin is a 185-kDa protein located in the M-band of striated muscle where it interacts with myosin and titin, possibly connecting thick filaments with the third filament system. By using expression of epitope-tagged myomesin fragments in cultured cardiomyocytes and biochemical binding assays, we could demonstrate that the M-band targeting activity and the myosin-binding site are located in different domains of the molecule. An N-terminal immunoglobulin-like domain is sufficient for targeting to the M-band, but solid-phase overlay assays between individual N-terminal domains and the thick filament protein myosin revealed that the unique head domain contains the myosin-binding site. When expressed in cardiomyocytes, the head domains of rat and chicken myomesin showed species-specific differences in their incorporation pattern. The head domain of rat myomesin localized to a central area within the A-band, whereas the head domain of chicken myomesin was diffusely distributed in the cytoplasm. We therefore conclude that the head domain of myomesin binds to myosin but that this affinity is not sufficient for the restriction of the domain to the M-band in vivo. Instead, the neighboring immunoglobulin-like domain is essential for the precise incorporation of myomesin into the M-band, possibly because of interaction with a yet unknown protein of the sarcomere.

M band proteins myomesin and skelemin are encoded by the same gene: analysis of its organization and expression

The complete exon-intron organization of the murine gene encoding sarcomeric myomesin has been determined. The gene is composed of 38 exons and 37 introns, spanning approximately 105 kb of DNA. Intron positions and phases are essentially identical to those identified in M-protein. They are related to the modular structure of myomesin, which is composed almost entirely of immunoglobulin and fibronectin type III domains. Nearly all repeats follow a two exon-one domain structure. The start and end of each domain are defined by introns in phase I, while internal introns are more divergent in position and very rarely use phase I. Genomic Southern blotting and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that differential splicing of a single exon gives rise to two polypeptides, described in the literature as myomesin and skelemin, respectively. A single transcriptional start point was detected in both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Analysis of the presumptive promoter region revealed several potential regulatory elements. CAT expression assays using promoter deletion constructs identified three regions that seem to be important for the muscle-specific transcriptional activation of the myomesin gene. These results provide the basis for a comparative analysis of the regulation of myomesin and M-protein genes in vivo.

Role of M-line proteins in sarcomeric titin assembly during cardiac myofibrillogenesis

A rat polyclonal anti-M-line protein antiserum and three mouse monoclonal anti-titin antibodies (E2, F3, and A12) were used to study the spatiotemporal relationship between M-line proteins and titin during myofibril assembly in cultured chicken cardiomyocytes by immunofluorescence microscopy. In day 2 cultures, M-line proteins and titin were detected as punctate staining in most cardiomyocytes, which possessed many nonstriated fibrils. At a late stage (day 3 cultures), M-line proteins were incorporated into dot-like structures along nonstriated fibrils, while titin staining was continuous on these structures. As development progressed, M-line proteins were registered in periodic pattern in the mid-A band. In cardiomyocytes from day 5 cultures, the titin bands were separated by an unstained region, and achieved their adult doublet pattern. Thus, the organization of titin in the sarcomere appears to occur later than that of M-line proteins in the M-line. Our morphological data indicate that the early registration of M-line proteins in primitive myofibrils may guide titin filament alignment via interaction between M-line proteins and titin. In order to investigate the role of M-line proteins in the assembly of titin filaments, anti-M-line protein or anti-titin antibodies were introduced into cultured cardiomyocytes by electroporation to functionally bind the respective proteins, and the profile of myofibril assembly was examined. Cardiomyocytes from day 2-3 cultures with incorporated anti-M-line protein antibodies became shrunk, and exhibited defective myofibrillar assembly, as shown by the failure of titin to assemble into a typical sarcomeric pattern. Incorporation of anti-titin antibody E2, which recognizes the M-line end domain of titin, resulted in the failure of M-line proteins organized into the M-line structure, as shown by random, sporadic staining with anti-M-line protein antibody. These studies confirm the essential role of M-line proteins in the organization of titin filaments in the sarcomere and that the interaction between titin and M-line proteins is crucial to the formation of the M-line structure.

Mapping of a myosin-binding domain and a regulatory phosphorylation site in M-protein, a structural protein of the sarcomeric M band

The myofibrils of cross-striated muscle fibers contain in their M bands cytoskeletal proteins whose main function seems to be the stabilization of the three-dimensional arrangement of thick filaments. We identified two immunoglobin domains (Mp2-Mp3) of M-protein as a site binding to the central region of light meromyosin. This binding is regulated in vitro by phosphorylation of a single serine residue (Ser76) in the immediately adjacent amino-terminal domain Mp1. M-protein phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent kinase A inhibits binding to myosin LMM. Transient transfection studies of cultured cells revealed that the myosin-binding site seems involved in the targeting of M-protein to its location in the myofibril. Using the same method, a second myofibril-binding site was uncovered in domains Mp9-Mp13. These results support the view that specific phosphorylation events could be also important for the control of sarcomeric M band formation and remodeling.

Structure and expression of the gene encoding murine M-protein, a sarcomere-specific member of the immunoglobulin superfamily

The complete exon-intron organization of the murine gene encoding M-protein, a structural protein of sarcomeric myofibrils, was determined. The gene is composed of 37 exons and 36 introns, spanning approximately 75 kb of DNA. Intron positions are related to the modular structure of M-protein, which is composed essentially of immunoglobulin and fibronectin type III domains. Almost all repeats follow a two exon-one domain structure. The beginning and end of each domain are defined by introns in phase I; internal introns are more divergent in position and very rarely use phase I. A single transcriptional start point was detected in both skeletal and cardiac muscle. Analysis of the prospective promoter region revealed several potential regulatory elements. CAT expression assays using promoter deletion constructs identified three regions that seem to be most important for the muscle-specific transcription activation of the M-protein gene. These results provide the first complete characterization of a gene for a member of the intracellular branch of the immunoglobulin superfamily.

Desmin is essential for the tensile strength and integrity of myofibrils but not for myogenic commitment, differentiation, and fusion of skeletal muscle

A null mutation was introduced into the mouse desmin gene by homologous recombination. The desmin knockout mice (Des -/-) develop normally and are fertile. However, defects were observed after birth in skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles (Li, Z., E. Colucci-Guyon, M. Pincon-Raymond, M. Mericskay, S. Pournin, D. Paulin, and C. Babinet. 1996. Dev. Biol. 175:362-366; Milner, D.J., G. Weitzer, D. Tran, A. Bradley, and Y. Capetanaki. 1996. J. Cell Biol. 134:1255- 1270). In the present study we have carried out a detailed analysis of somitogenesis, muscle formation, maturation, degeneration, and regeneration in Des -/- mice. Our results demonstrate that all early stages of muscle differentiation and cell fusion occur normally. However, after birth, modifications were observed essentially in weight-bearing muscles such as the soleus or continually used muscles such as the diaphragm and the heart. In the absence of desmin, mice were weaker and fatigued more easily. The lack of desmin renders these fibers more susceptible to damage during contraction. We observed a process of degeneration of myofibers, accompanied by macrophage infiltration, and followed by a process of regeneration. These cycles of degeneration and regeneration resulted in a relative increase in slow myosin heavy chain (MHC) and decrease in fast MHC. Interestingly, this second wave of myofibrillogenesis during regeneration was often aberrant and showed signs of disorganization. Subsarcolemmal accumulation of mitochondria were also observed in these muscles. The lack of desmin was not compensated by an upregulation of vimentin in these mice either during development or regeneration. Absence of desmin filaments within the sarcomere does not interfere with primary muscle formation or regeneration. However, myofibrillogenesis in regenerating fibers is often abortive, indicating that desmin may be implicated in this repair process. The results presented here show that desmin is essential to maintain the structural integrity of highly solicited skeletal muscle.

Isoform-specific interaction of the myosin-binding proteins (MyBPs) with skeletal and cardiac myosin is a property of the C-terminal immunoglobulin domain

Full-length cDNAs encoding chicken and human skeletal MyBP-H and MyBP-C have been isolated and sequenced (1-5). All are members of a protein family with repetitive immunoglobulin C2 and fibronectin type III motifs. The myosin binding domain was mapped to a single immunoglobulin motif in cardiac MyBP-C and skeletal MyBP-H. Limited alpha-chymotryptic digestion of cardiac MyBP-C generated three peptides, similar in relative mobility to those of skeletal MyBP-C: approximately 100, 40, and 15 kDa. Tryptic digestion of MyBP-H yielded two peptides: approximately 50 and 14 kDa. Partial amino acid sequences proved that the 15- and 14-kDa fragments are located at the C termini of cardiac MyBP-C and skeletal MyBP-H, respectively. Only the 14- and 15-kDa peptides bound to myosin. Thus, the myosin binding site in all three proteins resides within an homologous, C-terminal immunoglobulin domain. Binding reactions (2) between the skeletal and cardiac MyBPs and corresponding myosin isoforms demonstrated saturable binding of the MyBP proteins and their C-terminal peptides to myosin, but there are higher limiting stoichiometries with the homologous isoform partners. Evidence is presented indicating that MyBP-H and -C compete for binding to a discrete number of sites in myosin filaments.

Small, membrane-bound, alternatively spliced forms of ankyrin 1 associated with the sarcoplasmic reticulum of mammalian skeletal muscle

We have recently found that the erythroid ankyrin gene, Ank1, expresses isoforms in mouse skeletal muscle, several of which share COOH-terminal sequence with previously known Ank1 isoforms but have a novel, highly hydrophobic 72-amino acid segment at their NH2 termini. Here, through the use of domain-specific peptide antibodies, we report the presence of the small ankyrins in rat and rabbit skeletal muscle and demonstrate their selective association with the sarcoplasmic reticulum. In frozen sections of rat skeletal muscle, antibodies to the spectrin-binding domain (anti-p65) react only with a 210-kD Ank1 and label the sarcolemma and nuclei, while antibodies to the COOH terminus of the small ankyrin (anti-p6) react with peptides of 20 to 26 kD on immunoblots and decorate the myoplasm in a reticular pattern. Mice homozygous for the normoblastosis mutation (gene symbol nb) are deficient in the 210-kD ankyrin but contain normal levels of the small ankyrins in the myoplasm. In nb/nb skeletal muscle, anti-p65 label is absent from the sarcolemma, whereas anti-p6 label shows the same distribution as in control skeletal muscle. In normal skeletal muscle of the rat, anti-p6 decorates Z lines, as defined by antidesmin distribution, and is also present at M lines where it surrounds the thick myosin filaments. Immunoblots of the proteins isolated with rabbit sarcoplasmic reticulum indicate that the small ankyrins are highly enriched in this fraction. When expressed in transfected HEK 293 cells, the small ankyrins are distributed in a reticular pattern resembling the ER if the NH2-terminal hydrophobic domain is present, but they are uniformly distributed in the cytosol if this domain is absent. These results suggest that the small ankyrins are integral membrane proteins of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. We propose that, unlike the 210-kD form of Ank1, previously localized to the sarcolemma and believed to be a part of the supporting cytoskeleton, the small Ank1 isoforms may stabilize the sarcoplasmic reticulum by linking it to the contractile apparatus.

Molecular structure of the sarcomeric M band: mapping of titin and myosin binding domains in myomesin and the identification of a potential regulatory phosphorylation site in myomesin

The M band of sarcomeric muscle is a highly complex structure which contributes to the maintenance of the regular lattice of thick filaments. We propose that the spatial coordination of this assembly is regulated by specific interactions of myosin filaments, the M band protein myomesin and the large carboxy-terminal region of titin. Corresponding binding sites between these proteins were identified. Myomesin binds myosin in the central region of light meromyosin (LMM, myosin residues 1506-1674) by its unique amino-terminal domain My1. A single titin immunoglobulin domain, m4, interacts with a myomesin fragment spanning domains My4-My6. This interaction is regulated by phosphorylation of Ser482 in the linker between myomesin domains My4 and My5. Myomesin phosphorylation at this site by cAMP-dependent kinase and similar or identical activities in muscle extracts block the association with titin. We propose that this demonstration of a phosphorylation-controlled interaction in the sarcomeric cytoskeleton is of potential relevance for sarcomere formation and/or turnover. It also reveals how binding affinities of modular proteins can be regulated by modifications of inter-domain linkers.

The structure of the sarcomeric M band: localization of defined domains of myomesin, M-protein, and the 250-kD carboxy-terminal region of titin by immunoelectron microscopy

The M band of vertebrate cross-striated myofibrils has remained an enigmatic structure. In addition to myosin thick filaments, two major structural proteins, myomesin and M-protein, have been localized to the M band. Also, titin is expected to be anchored in this structure. To begin to understand the molecular layout of these three proteins, a panel of 16 polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed against unique epitopes of defined sequence was assembled, and immunoelectron microscopy was used to locate the position of the epitopes at the sarcomere level. The results allow the localization and orientation of defined domains of titin, myomesin, and M-protein at high resolution. The 250-kD carboxy-terminal region of titin clearly enters the M band with the kinase domain situated approximately 52 nm from the central M1-line. The positions of three additional epitopes are compatible with the view that the titin molecule reaches approximately 60 nm into the opposite sarcomere half. Myomesin also seems to bridge the central M1-line and is oriented parallel to the long axis of the myofibril. The neighboring molecules are oriented in an antiparallel and staggered fashion. The amino-terminal portion of the protein, known to contain a myosin binding site, seems to adopt a specific three-dimensional arrangement. While myomesin is present in both slow and fast fibers, M-protein is restricted to fast fibers. It appears to be organized in a fundamentally different manner: the central portion of the polypeptide is around the M1-line, while the terminal epitopes seem to be arranged along thick filaments. This orientation fits the conspicuously stronger M1-lines in fast twitch fibers. Obvious implications of this model are discussed.

Tissue-specific isoforms of chicken myomesin are generated by alternative splicing

Myomesin is a high molecular weight protein that is present in the M-band of all fiber types of cross-striated skeletal muscle and heart. We have isolated two cDNAs encoding tissue-specific isoforms of chicken myomesin with calculated molecular masses of 174 kDa in skeletal muscle and 182 kDa in heart. Distinct sequences are found at the 3'-end of the two cDNAs, giving rise to different C-terminal domains. Partial analysis of the gene structure has shown that in chicken, both isoforms are generated by alternative splicing of a composite exon. Amino acid sequences show that the main body of myomesin consists of five fibronectin type III (class I motifs) and seven immunoglobulin-like domains (class II motifs). An identical structure was found in M-protein and human 190K protein (the human counterpart of chicken myomesin), and a comparable domain arrangement occurs in the M-band-associated protein skelemin. We postulate that myomesin, M-protein, and skelemin belong to the same subfamily of high molecular weight M-band-associated proteins of the immunoglobulin superfamily and that they probably have the same ancestor in evolution.

A novel 550-kDa protein in skeletal muscle of chick embryo: purification and localization

We have found a novel protein with a molecular mass of 550 kDa on SDS-polyacrylamide gels, which is abundant in skeletal muscle tissues at an early stage of chick embryonic development. The 550-kDa protein decreased with the progress of development, and only a slight amount of the protein was present in adult chicken skeletal muscle. The 550-kDa protein was purified from the cytoplasm of 18 day embryos by a procedure including ultracentrifugation and gel filtration. The purified 550-kDa protein was essentially free of contaminants as judged by SDS-PAGE. By immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy using the antibody raised against the 550-kDa protein, this protein was shown to be localized in the peripheries of adult muscle fibers and at the Z-disks of isolated myofibrils. These findings have led us to conclude that the 550-kDa protein is a novel myofibrillar protein in chicken skeletal muscle.

Purification and biochemical characterization of myomesin, a myosin-binding and titin-binding protein, from bovine skeletal muscle

We report a method for isolating homogeneous myomesin from mammalian skeletal muscle. The identity of the purified bovine protein was confirmed by its reactivity with myomesin-specific monoclonal antibodies and with polyclonal antibodies raised against peptides derived from the amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal ends of the sequence predicted by the human myomesin cDNA. All partial sequences obtained from bovine myomesin can be aligned along the human sequence predicted by its cloned cDNA. Electron microscopy of myomesin revealed short flexible rods with a molecular length of about 50 nm. Circular dichroism spectra showed a high degree of beta structure as expected for a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of proteins. Alignment of the sequences of the class I and II domains of myomesin with the sequences of domains of known three-dimensional structure provides a more detailed model of myomesin. In agreement with this view, the cleavage sites observed by limited proteolysis locate primarily between individual domains. In a solid-phase overlay assay myomesin specifically bound to the myosin rod and to light meromyosin (LMM), but not to the carboxy-terminal 30-kDa fragment of LMM. The myosin-binding site seemed to be confined to the amino-terminal 240 residues of the molecule. The cross-reactivity of myomesin with the phosphorylation-dependent monoclonal neurofilament antibody NE14 [Shaw, G.E., Debus, E. & Weber, K. (1984) Eur. J. Cell Biol. 34, 130-136] was analyzed. NE14 reactivity of myomesin was abolished by alkaline phosphatase. Reactivity of the antibody on stable proteolytic fragments of myomesin showed that the phosphorylation site must reside within the carboxy-terminal 60 residues.

Immunohistochemical characterization of human masseter muscle spindles

An enzyme- and immunohistochemical study has been performed on human masseter muscle spindles. Antibodies selective for different myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms and M-band proteins (M-protein, myomesin, and MM-CK) were used. The expression of these proteins was determined in the different intrafusal fiber types. Nuclear bag1 and nuclear bag2 fibers expressed predominantly slow-twitch and slow-tonic MHCs. The bag2 fibers in addition contained fetal MHC. Nuclear chain fibers coexpressed embryonic, fetal, and fast-twitch MHCs. The bag2 and chain fibers contained all three M-band proteins, whereas the bag1 fibers contained only myomesin. In general the MHC expression in the human masseter intrafusal fiber types was similar to that previously reported for limb muscles in man as well as for limb and masseter muscles in other species. However, the number of intrafusal fibers per spindle was unusually high (up to 36). This reinforces the idea that masseter muscle spindles have a strong proprioceptive impact during the control of jaw movements.

Structural analysis of muscle development: transverse tubules, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and the triad

Increased interest in the mechanism of excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling over the last few years has been accompanied by numerous investigations into the development of the underlying cellular structures. Areas of particular interest include: (1) the compartmentalization and specialization of an external and an internal membrane system, the T-tubules, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum, respectively; (2) interactions between the membrane proteins of both systems upon the formation of a junction, the triad; and (3) membrane-cytoskeletal interactions leading to the orderly arrangement of the triads with respect to the myofibrils. Structural studies using newly available specific molecular probes and a variety of in vivo and in vitro model systems have provided new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the development of the E-C coupling apparatus in skeletal muscle.

Differential distribution of subsets of myofibrillar proteins in cardiac nonstriated and striated myofibrils

Cultured cardiac myocytes were stained with antibodies to sarcomeric alpha-actinin, troponin-I, alpha-actin, myosin heavy chain (MHC), titin, myomesin, C-protein, and vinculin. Attention was focused on the distribution of these proteins with respect to nonstriated myofibrils (NSMFs) and striated myofibrils (SMFs). In NSMFs, alpha-actinin is found as longitudinally aligned, irregular approximately 0.3-microns aggregates. Such aggregates are associated with alpha-actin, troponin-I, and titin. These I-Z-I-like complexes are also found as ectopic patches outside the domain of myofibrils in close apposition to the ventral surface of the cell. MHC is found outside of SMFs in the form of discrete fibrils. The temporal-spatial distribution and accumulation of the MHC-fibrils with respect to the I-Z-I-like complexes varies greatly along the length of the NSMFs. There are numerous instances of I-Z-I-like complexes without associated MHC-fibrils, and also cases of MHC-fibrils located many microns from I-Z-I-like complexes. The transition between the terminal approximately 1.7-microns sarcomere of any given SMF and its distal NSMF-tip is abrupt and is marked by a characteristic narrow alpha-actinin Z-band and vinculin positive adhesion plaque. A titin antibody T20, which localizes to an epitope at the Z-band in SMFs, precisely costains the 0.3-microns alpha-actinin aggregates in ectopic patches and NSMFs. Another titin antibody T1, which in SMFs localizes to an epitope at the A-I junction, typically does not stain ectopic patches and NSMFs. Where detectable, the T1-positive material is adjacent to rather than part of the 0.3-microns alpha-actinin aggregates. Myomesin and C-protein are found only in their characteristic sarcomeric locations (even in just perceptible SMFs). These A-band-associated proteins appear to be absent in ectopic patches and NSMFs.