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Biomedical subjects

S Bartel

Publications and source records attributed to S Bartel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Hypertrophic phenotype of cardiac calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II is reversed by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition.

Calcium-dependent mechanisms and the renin angiotensin system (RAS) are critically involved in the hypertrophic growth of the myocardium. The calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a ubiquitous mediator in calcium signaling and modulates calcium handling and growth mechanisms in cardiomyocytes. Here we present data on expression of cardiac isoforms of CaMKIIdelta, the dominant form in the myocardium, in compensatory hypertrophy of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) compared to the normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) control strain. Cardiac hypertrophy in SHRSP was documented by an increased heart weight/body weight ratio (HW/BW) of 31% (p < 0.05) and a more than six-fold elevated atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) transcript level (p < 0.05). Compensatory hypertrophic growth in SHRSP produced a specific phenotype of CaMKIIdelta isoforms characterized by increased transcript levels of the embryonic/neonatal isoform delta4 (48%, p < 0.05) and the isoform delta9 (31%, p < 0.05) with no changes in delta2 and delta3. Inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) by cilazapril completely regressed myocardial hypertrophy, normalized ANF transcript levels, and restored the normal phenotype of CaMKIIdelta by reducing transcripts for delta4 and delta9 to levels present in WKY controls. Our data suggest the importance of specific changes in the CaMKII isoform composition for growth processes in the myocardium.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed2001

Soluble substances released from postischemic reperfused rat hearts reduce calcium transient and contractility by blocking the L-type calcium channel.

OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the effects of cardiodepressant substances released from postischemic myocardial tissue on myocardial calcium-regulating pathways. BACKGROUND: We have recently reported that new cardiodepressant substances are released from isolated hearts during reperfusion after myocardial ischemia. METHODS: After 10 min of global ischemia, isolated rat hearts were reperfused, and the coronary effluent was collected for 30 s. We tested the effects of the postischemic coronary effluent on cell contraction, Ca2+ transients and Ca2+ currents of isolated rat cardiomyocytes by applying fluorescence microscopy and the whole-cell, voltage-clamp technique. Changes in intracellular phosphorylation mechanisms were studied by measuring tissue concentrations of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), as well as activities of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (cAMP-dPK) and protein kinase C (PKC). RESULTS: The postischemic coronary effluent, diluted with experimental buffer, caused a concentration-dependent reduction of cell shortening and Ca2+ transient in the field-stimulated isolated cardiomyocytes of rats, as well as a reduction in peak L-type Ca2+ current in voltage-clamped cardiomyocytes. The current reduction resulted from reduced maximal conductance--not from changes in voltage- and time-dependent gating of the L-type Ca2+ channel. The postischemic coronary effluent modified neither the tissue concentrations of cAMP or cGMP nor the activities of cAMP-dPK and PKC. However, the effluent completely eliminated the activation of glycogen phosphorylase after beta-adrenergic stimulation. CONCLUSIONS: Negative inotropic substances released from isolated postischemic hearts reduce Ca2+ transient and cell contraction through cAMP-independent and cGMP-independent blockage of L-type Ca2+ channels.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Myocardial adrenergic dysfunction in rats with transgenic, human renin-dependent hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: We investigated cardiac function in rats transgenic for the human renin and angiotensinogen genes (TGR) to test the hypothesis that elevated local angiotensin II precipitates adrenergic dysfunction and abnormal contractile function. METHODS: Hearts from TGR and Sprague-Dawley control rats, aged 6 weeks, were studied using the Langendorff model and papillary muscle preparations (n = 6-10 per group). Incremental isoproterenol (1 - 1000 nmol/l) and external Ca2+-concentrations (0.75-6.0 mmol/l) were tested. Cardiac protein and mRNA expression levels were determined by Western blot and RNAase protection assay. RESULTS: TGR rats showed left ventricular hypertrophy (54%), higher blood pressures (76 mmHg), and elevated plasma renin activity (seven-fold) compared to controls (P < 0.01). The effect of isoproterenol on TGR rat systolic and diastolic left ventricular performance was decreased in both in-vitro models compared to controls (two- to threefold, P < 0.01). TGR rat papillary muscles showed impaired force generation with abnormal basal and Ca2+-dependent relaxation. Gialpha2 and Gialpha3 protein levels were increased (20-30%) and SERCA2a and adenylyl cyclase protein levels were decreased (23 and 37%, respectively) in TGR hearts compared to controls, while Gsalpha or beta1 and beta2-receptor levels were unchanged. Cardiac angiotensin converting enzyme and atrial natriuretic peptide mRNA levels were increased more than four-fold in TGR with no differences for the angiotensin type1 receptor, beta1-receptor, SERCA2a, phospholamban, adenylyl cyclase V and angiotensinogen genes. CONCLUSIONS: TGR rat hearts develop severe adrenergic dysfunction with decreased adenylyl cyclase and abnormal intracellular Ca2+-homeostasis. Our findings emphasize angiotensin II as a major risk factor promoting early functional decline in cardiac hypertrophy. The data may have implications for patients with activating polymorphisms of the renin-angiotensin system and support the need for an early therapeutic intervention.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed2001

Use of penalty terms in gradient-based iterative reconstruction schemes for optical tomography.

It is well known that the reconstruction problem in optical tomography is ill-posed. In other words, many different spatial distributions of optical properties inside the medium can lead to the same detector readings on the surface of the medium under consideration. Therefore, the choice of an appropriate method to overcome this problem is of crucial importance for any successful optical tomographic image reconstruction algorithm. In this work we approach the problem within a gradient-based iterative image reconstruction scheme. The image reconstruction is considered to be a minimization of an appropriately defined objective function. The objective function can be separated into a least-square-error term, which compares predicted and actual detector readings, and additional penalty terms that may contain a priori information about the system. For the efficient minimization of this objective function the gradient with respect to the spatial distribution of optical properties is calculated. Besides presenting the underlying concepts in our approach to overcome ill-posedness in optical tomography, we will show numerical results that demonstrate how prior knowledge, represented as penalty terms, can improve the reconstruction results.

Humans↗
PubMed2000

Both beta(2)- and beta(1)-adrenergic receptors mediate hastened relaxation and phosphorylation of phospholamban and troponin I in ventricular myocardium of Fallot infants, consistent with selective coupling of beta(2)-adrenergic receptors to G(s)-protein.

BACKGROUND: In adult human heart, both beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors mediate hastening of relaxation; however, it is unknown whether this also occurs in infant heart. We compared the effects of stimulation of beta(1)- and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors on relaxation and phosphorylation of phospholamban and troponin I in ventricle obtained from infants with tetralogy of Fallot. METHODS AND RESULTS: Myocardium dissected from the right ventricular outflow tract of 27 infants (age range 21/2 to 35 months) with tetralogy of Fallot was set up to contract 60 times per minute. Selective stimulation of beta(1)-adrenergic receptors with (-)-norepinephrine (NE) and beta(2)-adrenergic receptors with (-)-epinephrine (EPI) evoked phosphorylation of phospholamban (at serine-16 and threonine-17) and troponin I and caused concentration-dependent increases in contractile force (-log EC(50) [mol/L] NE 5.5+/-0.1, n=12; EPI 5.6+/-0.1, n=13 patients), hastening of the time to reach peak force (-log EC(50) [mol/L] NE 5.8+/-0.2; EPI 5.8+/-0.2) and 50% relaxation (-log EC(50) [mol/L] NE 5.7+/-0.2; EPI 5.8+/-0.1). Ventricular membranes from Fallot infants, labeled with (-)-[(125)I]-cyanopindolol, revealed a greater percentage of beta(1)- (71%) than beta(2)-adrenergic receptors (29%). Binding of (-)-epinephrine to beta(2)-receptors underwent greater GTP shifts than binding of (-)-norepinephrine to beta(1)-receptors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite their low density, beta(2)-adrenergic receptors are nearly as effective as beta(1)-adrenergic receptors of infant Fallot ventricle in enhancing contraction, relaxation, and phosphorylation of phospholamban and troponin I, consistent with selective coupling to G(s)-protein.

Calcium-Binding Proteins↗
PubMed2000

Phosphorylation of phospholamban at threonine-17 in the absence and presence of beta-adrenergic stimulation in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

The site-specific phospholamban phosphorylation was studied with respect to the interplay of cAMP- and Ca(2+)signaling in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. To elucidate the signal pathway(s) for the activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMKII) we studied Thr17 phosphorylation of phospholamban in dependence of Ca(2+)channel activation by S(-)-Bay K8644 and in dependence of the depletion of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)stores by ryanodine or thapsigargin in the absence or presence of beta -adrenergic stimulation. The isoproterenol (0.1 microM)-induced Thr17 phosphorylation was potentiated 2.5-fold in presence of 1 microM S(-)-Bay K8644. Interestingly, S(-)-Bay K8644 alone was also able to induce Thr17 phosphorylation in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Ryanodine (1.0 microM) reduced both the isoproterenol (0.1 microM) and S(-)-Bay K8644-(1 microM) mediated Thr17 phosphorylation by about 90%. Thapsigargin (1 microM) diminished the S(-)-Bay K8644 and isoproterenol-associated Thr17 phosphorylation by 53.5+/-6.3% and 92. 5+/-11.1%, respectively. Ser16 phosphorylation was not affected under these conditions. KN-93 reduced the Thr17 phosphorylation by S(-)-Bay K8644 and isoproterenol to levels of 1.1+/-0.3% and 8.6+/-2. 1%, respectively. However, the effect of KN-93 was attenuated (47. 8+/-3.6%) in isoproterenol prestimulated cells. Protein phosphatase inhibition by okadaic acid increased exclusively the Ser16 phosphorylation. In summary, our results reflect a cross-talk between beta -adrenoceptor stimulation and intracellular Ca(2+)at the level of CaMKII-mediated phospholamban phosphorylation in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. We report conditions which exclusively produce Thr17 or Ser16 phosphorylation. We postulate that Ca(2+)transport systems of the sarcoplasmic reticulum are critical determinants for the activation of CaMKII that catalyzes phosphorylation of phospholamban.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed2000

[A comparative study of cardiac function in transgenic hypertensive rats, in spontaneously hypertensive rats and in normotensive rats].

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) entails numerous functional and molecular changes that ultimately lead to cardiac insufficiency. The renin-angiotensin system and adrenergic receptor signalling pathway have both been implicated in LVH progression and interactions between these factors may precipitate contractile dysfunction. We therefore investigated cardiac function in hypertensive rats transgenic for the human renin and angiotensinogen genes (TGR) having a genetic activation of the renin-angiotensin system, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive controls (CTR) aged 6 weeks. The isolated perfused heart model was used and the effect of isoproterenol (0.1-1000 nmol/L on cardiac function was studied. Cardiac protein and gene expression was studied by Western blot and RNase protection assay. TGR had 75 mmHg higher blood pressure and a 24% higher cardiac/body weight ratio than CTR; blood pressure in SHR was 17 mmHg higher without heart weight difference (p < 0.05). Basal Pmax, +dP/dt and -dP/dt were higher in TGR and SHR compared with CTR hearts. Isoproterenol stimulated these parameters by a maximum factor 6-8 in CTR and SHR but had almost no effect in TGR (p < 0.05). Basal CF per g heart weight was similar in all experimental groups. Isoproterenol produced a significantly smaller vasodilation in TGR compared with CTR or SHR. beta 1 and beta 2 receptor and Gs alpha proteins were similar in TGR, SHR and CTR. Gi alpha was increased in TGR hearts (p < 0.05). Converting enzyme and atrial natriuretic factor mRNA expression was increased (p < 0.01) while beta 1 receptor, adenylyl-cyclase V, SERCA2a and phospholamban mRNA expression was unchanged in TGR compared with CTR. Thus, LVH in TGR is characterised by early adrenergic dysfunction and beta 1 receptor signalling abnormalities indicating progressive functional deterioration. The data may serve as support for an early preventive intervention in angiotensin-II dependent cardiac hypertrophy and may have also implications for patients with genetic alterations of the renin-angiotensin system.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1999

beta2-adrenergic cAMP signaling is uncoupled from phosphorylation of cytoplasmic proteins in canine heart.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies of beta-adrenergic receptor (beta-AR) subtype signaling in in vitro preparations have raised doubts as to whether the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling is activated in the same manner in response to beta2-AR versus beta1-AR stimulation. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study compared, in the intact dog, the magnitude and characteristics of chronotropic, inotropic, and lusitropic effects of cAMP accumulation, PKA activation, and PKA-dependent phosphorylation of key effector proteins in response to beta-AR subtype stimulation. In addition, many of these parameters and L-type Ca2+ current (ICa) were also measured in single canine ventricular myocytes. The results indicate that although the cAMP/PKA-dependent phosphorylation cascade activated by beta1-AR stimulation could explain the resultant modulation of cardiac function, substantial beta2-AR-mediated chronotropic, inotropic, and lusitropic responses occurred in the absence of PKA activation and phosphorylation of nonsarcolemmal proteins, including phospholamban, troponin I, C protein, and glycogen phosphorylase kinase. However, in single canine myocytes, we found that beta2-AR-stimulated increases in both ICa and contraction were abolished by PKA inhibition. Thus, the beta2-AR-directed cAMP/PKA signaling modulates sarcolemmal L-type Ca2+ channels but does not regulate PKA-dependent phosphorylation of cytoplasmic proteins. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the dissociation of beta2-AR signaling from cAMP regulatory systems is only apparent and that beta2-AR-stimulated cAMP/PKA signaling is uncoupled from phosphorylation of nonsarcolemmal regulatory proteins involved in excitation-contraction coupling.

Actin Cytoskeleton↗
PubMed1999

Dissociation of the effects of forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP on force of contraction and phospholamban phosphorylation in human heart failure.

Forskolin and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) stimulate force of contraction independent of beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. We studied their effects on force of contraction and phosphorylation of regulatory proteins in isolated electrically driven trabeculae carneae from failing human ventricles. The phosphorylation state of the regulatory protein phospholamban was studied because its phosphorylation usually faithfully follows contractility. For comparison, the phosphorylation state of the inhibitory subunit of troponin was studied. The phosphorylation state was inferred from in vitro phosphorylation of homogenates with cAMP-dependent protein kinase in the presence of radioactive gamma[32P]ATP Proteins were separated by electrophoresis, and radioactivity in the proteins of interest was quantified. The maximal positive inotropic effects occurred at 30 microM forskolin and were attenuated in comparison with the maximal effects to dibutyryl cAMP (1 mM). Both forskolin and dibutyryl cAMP enhanced phospholamban phosphorylation. However, phospholamban phosphorylation in intact trabeculae treated with 30 microM forskolin and 1 mM dibutyryl cAMP was comparable. It is suggested that phospholamban phosphorylation can be dissociated from inotropy at least in isolated trabeculae from failing human hearts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Ser16 prevails over Thr17 phospholamban phosphorylation in the beta-adrenergic regulation of cardiac relaxation.

Phospholamban is a critical regulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase and myocardial contractility. To determine the extent of cross signaling between Ca2+ and cAMP pathways, we have investigated the beta-adrenergic-induced phosphorylation of Ser16 and Thr17 of phospholamban in perfused rat hearts using antibodies recognizing phospholamban phosphorylated at either position. Isoproterenol caused the dose-dependent phosphorylation of Ser16 and Thr17 with strikingly different half-maximal values (EC50 = 4.5 +/- 1.6 and 28. 2 +/- 1.4 nmol/l, respectively). The phosphorylation of Ser16 induced by isoproterenol, forskolin, or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine correlated to increased cardiac relaxation (r = 0.96), whereas phosphorylation of Thr17 did not. Elevation of extracellular Ca2+ did not induce phosphorylation at Thr17; only in the presence of a submaximal dose of isoproterenol, phosphorylation at Thr17 increased eightfold without additional effects on relaxation rate. Thr17 phosphorylation was partially affected by ryanodine and was completely abolished in the presence of 1 micromol/l verapamil or nifedipine. The data indicate that 1) phosphorylation of phospholamban at Ser16 by cAMP-dependent protein kinase is the main regulator of beta-adrenergic-induced cardiac relaxation definitely preceding Thr17 phosphorylation and 2) the beta-adrenergic-mediated phosphorylation of Thr17 by Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase required influx of Ca2+ through the L-type Ca2+ channel.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗
PubMed1998

Phosphorylation of phospholamban correlates with relaxation of coronary artery induced by nitric oxide, adenosine, and prostacyclin in the pig.

The intracellular mechanisms underlying the action of the endogenous vasodilators such as NO/EDRF, adenosine, and prostacyclin acting through cGMP and cAMP, respectively, are not well understood. One important action of cyclic nucleotides in smooth muscle relaxation is to lower the cytosolic Ca2+ concentration by enhanced sequestration into the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the potential role of phosphorylation of phospholamban, the regulator of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ pump, for the control of coronary vascular tone by NO/EDRF, adenosine, and prostacyclin. Phospholamban was identified in pig coronary artery preparations by immunofluorescence microscopy, Western blotting and in vitro phosphorylation. Segments of pig coronary artery, with either intact or denuded endothelium, were precontracted with prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha). In endothelium-denuded preparations 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), 5'-N-ethylcarboxiamidoadenosine (NECA), and iloprost (ILO) caused both relaxation and phospholamban phosphorylation with the potency: SIN-1 > NECA > ILO. The regulatory myosin light chain was significantly dephosphorylated only by SIN-1. In endothelium-intact pig coronary artery, L-NAME caused additional vasoconstriction and a decrease in phospholamban phosphorylation, while phosphorylation of myosin light chain remained unchanged. An inverse relationship between phospholamban phosphorylation and vessel tone was obtained. Our findings demonstrate significant phospholamban phosphorylation during coronary artery relaxation evoked by NO, prostacyclin, and adenosine receptor activation. Because of the close correlation between phosphorylation of phospholamban and vessel relaxation, we propose that phospholamban phosphorylation is an important mechanism by which endogenous vasodilators, especially endothelial NO/EDRF, control coronary vascular smooth muscle tone.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1997

The endogenous cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase is activated in response to beta-adrenergic stimulation and becomes Ca2+-independent in intact beating hearts.

We investigated the effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation on the activity of the endogenous cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (SRCaM kinase) in Langendorff-perfused rat hearts. We found that isoproterenol induced generation of autonomous (Ca2+-independent) SRCaM kinase activity to 28 +/- 4.4% of the total activity. Moreover, dephosphorylation of the autonomous SRCaM kinase with protein phosphatase 2A resulted in an enzyme that was again dependent on Ca2+ and calmodulin for its activity. Activation of SRCaM kinase was coupled to phospholamban phosphorylation and activation of the cAMP-signaling system. Our results suggest that the cardiac SRCaM kinase is activated in response to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation. This activation stimulates autophosphorylation at its regulatory domain and converts it to an active Ca2+-independent species that may be the basis for potentiation of Ca2+ transients in the heart.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1997

Altered expression of PDE1 and PDE4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isoforms in 7-oxo-prostacyclin-preconditioned rat heart.

The stable prostacyclin derivative, 7-oxo-prostacyclin, exhibits a delayed, long-lasting cardioprotective effect, which is accompanied by an increase in cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities restricted to the Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent (PDE1) and cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE4) activities. Mammalian PDEs form a large multi-gene family with differential expression occurring in a cell- and tissue-specific manner. The aim of this study was to identify which isoforms of PDE1 and PDE4 are present in the hearts of control and 7-oxo-prostacyclin treated rats. Using RT-PCR analysis, we were able to identify in control rat hearts transcripts for PDE1C, but not for either PDE1A or PDE1B within the three-gene PDE1 family. Within the four-gene PDE4 family we detected, by generic RT-PCR analysis, transcripts for PDE4A, PDE4B and PDE4D, but not PDE4C. Using RT-PCR primers for specific splice variants, we identified transcripts for PDE4B1, PDE4B2, PDE4B3, PDE4D1, PDE4D2 and PDE4D3 in hearts from the control animals. Immunoblotting of hearts from the control animals for PDE4 forms allowed us to identify a 98-kDa PDE4A species, 68-kDa band representing PDE4D1/2 and a 95-kDa species indicative of PDE4D3. In the hearts of treated animals, 48 h after a single 50 microgram/kg dose of 7-oxo-prostacyclin, a profound increase in transcript levels was seen for both PDE1C and PDE4B3 together with a slight elevation for PDE4B1. No change in PDE4A transcripts occurred, which was consistent with a lack of change indicated in immunoblotting analyses. In contrast, 7-oxo-prostacyclin treatment caused decrease in transcript levels for PDE4D, which was confirmed by immunoblotting and shown to be due to a reduction in the levels of PDE4D3 and also in PDE4D1/D2. Thus, treatment of animals with 7-oxo-prostacyclin initiated profound isoform-specific changes in PDE expression in the myocardium which, presumably, underpin the increased PDE activity.

3',5'-Cyclic-AMP Phosphodiesterases↗
PubMed1997

Site-specific phosphorylation of a phospholamban peptide by cyclic nucleotide- and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Phospholamban (PLB), the regulator of the cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ pump is specifically phosphorylated at Ser16 and Thr17 by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) and Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK), respectively. The regulation of this dual-site phosphorylation of amino acid residues in direct proximity is only poorly understood. In order to study the site-specific phosphorylation of PLB, we used a synthetic peptide (PLB-24) corresponding to the cytosolic part of the PLB monomer with the phosphorylation sites as a model substrate. PLB-24 possesses substrate properties as the native PLB as demonstrated by phosphorylation with exogenous, purified PKA, cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) and a type II CaMK (CaMKII). In isolated vesicles of cardiac SR there was a rapid phosphorylation of the peptide by the endogenous PKA (SR-PKA) and CaMK (SR-CaMK), but not under conditions that activate PKG. Both SR-PKA and SR-CaMK incorporated the same amount of 32P into PLB-24, 0.60 +/- 0.01 nmol 32P/mg SR protein and 0.61 +/- 0.03 nmol 32P/mg SR protein, respectively. Phosphorylation by SR-PKA was abolished by the specific PKA inhibitor (IC50 = 0.2 microM), whereas SR-CaMK phosphorylation was inhibited by calmidazolium (IC50 = 1.6 microM) and a CaMKII-specific inhibitor peptide (IC50 = 2.5 microM). Phosphorylation by SR-PKA was exclusively at Ser, whereas SR-CaMK phosphorylated only Thr. After simultaneous activation of both SR-kinases 32P incorporation into PLB-24 was additive and occurred at Ser as well as at Thr. Sequential activation of SR-PKA and SR-CaMK also caused the additive phosphorylation of PLB-24 independently of which kinase was activated first. Thus, at the monomeric level of PLB the respective phosphorylation site appears to be accessible to its related SR protein kinase in vitro even when the adjacent site is phosphorylated.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Relation between contractile function and regulatory cardiac proteins in hypertrophied hearts.

The aim of this study was to examine the mechanism(s) underlying the reduced isoproterenol-induced positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in hypertrophied hearts. Chronic beta-adrenergic stimulation (2.4 mg isoproterenol.kg-1. day-1 for 4 days) induced cardiac hypertrophy by 33 +/- 2% in rats. A parallel downregulation of phospholamban (PLB) and sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2(+)-ATPase (SERCA2) protein expression by 49 and 40%, respectively, was observed, whereas troponin I (TNI) and C protein remained unchanged. In papillary muscles from chronically beta-adrenergically stimulated rats, the isoproterenol-induced positive inotropic and lusitropic effects, as well as adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) accumulation, were attenuated compared with those in control animals. Acute exposure to isoproterenol induced phosphate incorporation into PLB, TNI, and C protein of 48 +/- 4.6, 55 +/- 5.0, and 27 +/- 4.9 pmol/mg homogenate protein, respectively, in control animals. In the hypertrophied hearts, phosphate incorporation into PLB was reduced by 76%, whereas phosphate incorporation into TNI or C protein remained unchanged. In conclusion, chronic beta-adrenergic stimulation reduced the isoproterenol-stimulated positive inotropic and lusitropic effects in papillary muscles, which were accompanied by 1) diminished cAMP formation, 2) attenuation of cAMP-mediated PLB phosphorylation, and 3) downregulation of PLB and SERCA2 protein.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗
PubMed1996

Activation of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in cardiomyocytes by anti-beta 1-adrenoceptor autoantibodies from patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

The serum of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy contains agonistic autoantibodies that bind to beta 1-adrenoceptor and exert a positive chronotropic effect in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. In this study it is shown that these antibodies like isoproterenol increase the activity of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the challenged myocytes. Cytosolic and particulate PKA activity was found to be increased as indicated by a rise in the PKA activity ratio from control values of 0.20 +/- 0.02 to 0.33 +/- 0.03 (p < 0.001), respectively, after exposure to the autoantibodies. Increases in PKA activity ratio by the autoantibodies as well as by isoproterenol were blocked in the presence of (-) propranolol. These findings complete the pathway by which the autoantibodies realize their chronotropic effects via beta-adrenoceptor-binding, cyclic AMP generation and activation of particulate and cytosolic cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Effects of the phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A on the phosphorylation of C-protein in mammalian ventricular cardiomyocytes.

The effects of inhibitors of protein phosphatase activity on C-protein phosphorylation were studied in preparations from mammalian ventricles. Calyculin A (CyA), an inhibitor of type 1 and 2A protein phosphatases, was studied. CyA concentration- and time-dependency increased the phosphorylation state of C-protein in isolated 32P-labelled guinea pig ventricular cardiomyocytes. C-protein was identified by its reaction with a polyclonal antibody and immunoprecipitation. It is concluded that C-protein in intact cardiomyocytes could be a substrate for type 1 and 2A protein phosphatases.

Animals↗