title: Interaction between PEVK-titin and actin filaments: origin of a viscous force component in cardiac myofibrils.
abstract: The giant muscle protein titin contains a unique sequence, the PEVK domain, the elastic properties of which contribute to the mechanical behavior of relaxed cardiomyocytes. Here, human N2-B-cardiac PEVK was expressed in Escherichia coli and tested-along with recombinant cardiac titin constructs containing immunoglobulin-like or fibronectin-like domains-for a possible interaction with actin filaments. In the actomyosin in vitro motility assay, only the PEVK construct inhibited actin filament sliding over myosin. The slowdown occurred in a concentration-dependent manner and was accompanied by an increase in the number of stationary actin filaments. High [Ca(2+)] reversed the PEVK effect. PEVK concentrations >/=10 microgram/mL caused actin bundling. Actin-PEVK association was found also in actin fluorescence binding assays without myosin at physiological ionic strength. In cosedimentation assays, PEVK-titin interacted weakly with actin at 0 degrees C, but more strongly at 30 degrees C, suggesting involvement of hydrophobic interactions. To probe the interaction in a more physiological environment, nonactivated cardiac myofibrils were stretched quickly, and force was measured during the subsequent hold period. The observed force decline could be fit with a three-order exponential-decay function, which revealed an initial rapid-decay component (time constant, 4 to 5 ms) making up 30% to 50% of the whole decay amplitude. The rapid, viscous decay component, but not the slower decay components, decreased greatly and immediately on actin extraction with Ca(2+)-independent gelsolin fragment, both at physiological sarcomere lengths and beyond actin-myosin overlap. Steady-state passive force dropped only after longer exposure to gelsolin. We conclude that interaction between PEVK-titin and actin occurs in the sarcomere and may cause viscous drag during diastolic stretch of cardiac myofibrils. The interaction could also oppose shortening during contraction.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kulke
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fujita-Becker
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rostkova
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Neagoe
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Labeit
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Manstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gautel
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Linke
mesh_terms: D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism*; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000502:physiology; D001681:Biological Assay; D002645:Chickens; D064211:Connectin; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009210:Myofibrils / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000502:physiology; D011494:Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000502:physiology; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D064211:Connectin; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C577285:TTN protein, human; D011494:Protein Kinases