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Biomedical subjects

Siegfried Labeit

Publications and source records attributed to Siegfried Labeit.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2007

Molecular determinants for the recruitment of the ubiquitin-ligase MuRF-1 onto M-line titin.

Titin forms an intrasarcomeric filament system in vertebrate striated muscle, which has elastic and signaling properties and is thereby central to mechanotransduction. Near its C-terminus and directly preceding a kinase domain, titin contains a conserved pattern of Ig and FnIII modules (Ig(A168)-Ig(A169)-FnIII(A170), hereby A168-A170) that recruits the E3 ubiquitin-ligase MuRF-1 to the filament. This interaction is thought to regulate myofibril turnover and the trophic state of muscle. We have elucidated the crystal structure of A168-A170, characterized MuRF-1 variants by circular dichroism (CD) and SEC-MALS, and studied the interaction of both components by isothermal calorimetry, SPOTS blots, and pull-down assays. This has led to the identification of the molecular determinants of the binding. A168-A170 shows an extended, rigid architecture, which is characterized by a shallow surface groove that spans its full length and a distinct loop protrusion in its middle point. In MuRF-1, a C-terminal helical domain is sufficient to bind A168-A170 with high affinity. This helical region predictably docks into the surface groove of A168-A170. Furthermore, pull-down assays demonstrate that the loop protrusion in A168-A170 is a key mediator of MuRF-1 recognition. Our findings indicate that this region of titin could serve as a target to attempt therapeutic inhibition of MuRF-1-mediated muscle turnover, where binding of small molecules to its distinctive structural features could block MuRF-1 access.

Calorimetry↗
PubMed2006

Myocardial expression of Murf-1 and MAFbx after induction of chronic heart failure: Effect on myocardial contractility.

OBJECTIVE: In chronic heart failure (CHF) the myocardial expression of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), which is thought to contribute to myocardial remodeling, was found to be increased. However, it is unknown whether the E3-ubiquitin ligases MAFbx and Murf-1 are involved in this remodeling process and whether their expression is regulated by TNF-alpha. METHODS: Rats underwent ligation of the left coronary artery to induce CHF or were sham-operated. The expression of MAFbx/Murf-1 and troponin I was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blotting in the non-infarcted area of the left ventricle. In cell culture experiments the potency of TNF-alpha to stimulate Murf-1/MAFbx expression, the intracellular signaling pathway, and the involvement of the E3-ligases for the impairment of contractility were assessed. RESULTS: In CHF the myocardial expression of TNF-alpha was elevated 3.1-fold as compared to control. This was associated with a 4.5-fold and 2.7-fold increase in MAFbx and Murf-1 expression, respectively. A positive correlation between TNF-alpha and the expression of MAFbx or Murf-1 was evident. In neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, TNF-alpha induced the expression of MAFbx through p38MAPK-dependent pathways, whereas the induction of Murf-1 required the activation of the p42/44 MAPK pathway. Exposure of cardiomyocytes to TNF-alpha resulted in troponin I ubiquitinylation, subsequent degradation, and a decline in contractility. This was completely abrogated by siRNAs against Murf-1/MAFbx. CONCLUSION: TNF-alpha, which is increasingly expressed in CHF, induces troponin I degradation through a MAFbx/Murf-1-dependent pathway. This was associated with an impairment of contractility and might be one mechanism involved in the adverse remodeling process in CHF.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Hypothyroidism leads to increased collagen-based stiffness and re-expression of large cardiac titin isoforms with high compliance.

Because long-term hypothyroidism results in diastolic dysfunction, we investigated myocardial passive stiffness in hypothyroidism and focused on the possible role of titin, an important determinant of diastolic stiffness. A rat model of hypothyroidism was used, obtained by administering propylthiouracil (PTU) for times that varied from 1 month (short-term) to 4 months (long-term). Titin expression was determined by transcript analysis, gel electrophoresis and immunoelectron microscopy. Diastolic function was measured at the isolated heart, skinned muscle, and cardiac myocyte levels. We found that hypothyroidism resulted in expression of a large titin isoform, the abundance of which gradually increased with time to become the most dominant isoform in long-term hypothyroid rats. This isoform co-migrates on high-resolution gels with fetal cardiac titin. Transcript analysis on myocardium of long-term PTU rats, provided evidence for expression of additional PEVK and Ig domain exons, similar to what has been described in fetal myocardium. Consistent with the expression of a large titin isoform, titin-based restoring and passive forces were significantly reduced in single cardiac myocytes and muscle strips of long-term hypothyroid rats. Overall muscle stiffness and LV diastolic wall stiffness were increased, however, due to increased collagen-based stiffness. We conclude that long term hypothyroidism triggers expression of a large cardiac titin isoform and that the ensuing reduction in titin-based passive stiffness functions as a compensatory mechanism to reduce LV wall stiffness.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Nebulin regulates thin filament length, contractility, and Z-disk structure in vivo.

The precise assembly of the highly organized filament systems found in muscle is critically important for its function. It has been hypothesized that nebulin, a giant filamentous protein extending along the entire length of the thin filament, provides a blueprint for muscle thin filament assembly. To test this hypothesis, we generated a KO mouse model to investigate nebulin functions in vivo. Nebulin KO mice assemble thin filaments of reduced lengths and approximately 15% of their Z-disks are abnormally wide. Our data demonstrate that nebulin functions in vivo as a molecular ruler by specifying pointed- and barbed-end thin filament capping. Consistent with the shorter thin filament length of nebulin deficient mice, maximal active tension was significantly reduced in KO animals. Phenotypically, the murine model recapitulates human nemaline myopathy (NM), that is, the formation of nemaline rods combined with severe skeletal muscle weakness. The myopathic changes in the nebulin KO model include depressed contractility, loss of myopalladin from the Z-disk, and dysregulation of genes involved in calcium homeostasis and glycogen metabolism; features potentially relevant for understanding human NM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2006

Expression of distinct classes of titin isoforms in striated and smooth muscles by alternative splicing, and their conserved interaction with filamins.

While the role of titin as a sarcomeric protein is well established, its potential functional role(s) in smooth muscles and non-muscle tissues are controversial. We used a titin exon array to search for which part(s) of the human titin transcriptional unit encompassing 363 exons is(are) expressed in non-striated muscle tissues. Expression profiling of adult smooth muscle tissues (aorta, bladder, carotid, stomach) identified alternatively spliced titin isoforms, encompassing 80 to about 100 exons. These exons code for parts of the titin Z-disk, I-band and A-band regions, allowing the truncated smooth muscle titin isoform to link Z-disks/dense bodies together with thick filaments. Consistent with the array data, Western blot studies detected the expression of approximately 1 MDa smooth muscle titin in adult smooth muscles, reacting with selected Z-disc, I-band, and A-band titin antibodies. Immunofluorescence with these antibodies located smooth muscle titin in the cytoplasm of cultured human aortic smooth muscle cells and in the tunica media of intact adult bovine aorta. Real time PCR studies suggested that smooth muscle titins are expressed from a promoter located 35 kb or more upstream of the transcription initiation site used for striated muscle titin, driving expression of a bi-cistronic mRNA, coding 5' for the anonymous gene FL39502, followed 3' by titin, respectively. Our work showed that smooth muscle and striated muscle titins share in their conserved amino-terminal regions binding sites for alpha-actinin and filamins: Yeast two-hybrid screens using Z2-Zis1 titin baits identified prey clones coding for alpha-actinin-1 and filamin-A from smooth muscle, and alpha-actinin-2/3, filamin-C, and nebulin from skeletal muscle cDNA libraries, respectively. This suggests that the titin Z2-Zis1 domain can link filamins and alpha-actinin together in the periphery of the Z-line/dense bodies in a fashion that is conserved in smooth and striated muscles.

Actinin↗
PubMed2006

Cardiac titin: structure, functions and role in disease.

Titin is a giant sarcomeric protein found in both cardiac and skeletal muscle. In the heart, the structure, functions and role of titin in disease have begun to be elucidated over the last decade. Titin's N-terminus is anchored in the Z-disk while C-terminal domains are bound to the thick filament. The I-band segment is a complex molecular spring consisting of PEVK and tandem Ig segments as well as variable N2B and N2A elements. The latter determine titin's two isoforms. N2B alone is present in the smaller and stiffer N2B isoform and both N2A and N2B elements are present in the larger, more compliant N2BA isoform. Large mammals co-express both isoforms, while normal rodents have virtually exclusively N2B titin. With sarcomere stretch, titin's I-band segment elongates and develops passive tension. Titin is the predominant determinant of cardiomyocyte passive tension over the physiologic sarcomere length range. With contraction below slack length, the thick filament drags titin in the opposite direction such that extension of the spring results in generation of a restoring force resulting in elastic recoil. In addition to its mechanical properties, a role is emerging for titin as a major biomechanical sensing and signaling molecule. Moreover, recent studies indicate that titin undergoes dynamic isoform and possibly phosphorylation changes in disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Identification of a novel frameshift mutation in the giant muscle filament titin in a large Australian family with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an etiologically heterogeneous cardiac disease characterized by left ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction. Approximately 25-30% of DCM patients show a family history of mainly autosomal dominant inheritance. We and others have previously demonstrated that mutations in the giant muscle filament titin (TTN) can cause DCM. However, the prevalence of titin mutations in familial DCM is unknown. In this paper, we report a novel heterozygous 1-bp deletion mutation (c.62890delG) in TTN that cosegregates with DCM in a large Australian pedigree (A3). The TTN deletion mutation c.62890delG causes a frameshift, thereby generating a truncated A-band titin due to a premature stop codon (p.E20963KfsX10) and the addition of ten novel amino acid residues. The clinical phenotype of DCM in kindred A3 demonstrates incomplete penetrance and variable expressivity. Finally, protein analysis of a skeletal muscle biopsy sample from an affected member did not reveal the predicted truncated titin isoform although the aberrant mRNA was present, suggesting posttranslational modification and degradation of the truncated protein. The identification of a novel disease-causing mutation in the giant titin gene in a third large family with DCM indicates that mutations in titin may account for a significant portion of the genetic etiology in familial DCM.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Suppressed disassembly of autolyzing p94/CAPN3 by N2A connectin/titin in a genetic reporter system.

p94/calpain 3 is a skeletal muscle-specific member of the Ca(2+)-regulated cytosolic cysteine protease family, the calpains. Defective p94 protease activity originating from gene mutations causes a muscular dystrophy called calpainopathy, indicating the indispensability of p94 for muscle survival. Because of the existence of the p94-specific regions IS1 and IS2, p94 undergoes very rapid and exhaustive autolysis. To elucidate the physiological relevance of this unique activity, the autolytic profiles of p94 and the effect of the p94 binding protein, connectin/titin, on this process were investigated. In vitro analysis of p94 autolysis showed that autolysis in IS1 proceeds without immediate disassembly into fragments and that the newly identified cryptic autolytic site in IS2 is critical for disassembling autolyzed fragments. As a genetic system to assay p94 autolysis semiquantitatively, p94 was expressed in yeast as a hybrid protein between the DNA binding and activation domains of the yeast transcriptional activator Gal4. Transcriptional activation by the Gal4-p94:WT hybrid protein is precluded by p94 autolysis. Complete or partial loss of autolytic activity by C129S active site mutation, limb girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A pathogenic missense mutations, or PCR-based random mutagenesis could be detected by semiquantitative restoration of Gal4-dependent beta-galactosidase gene expression. Using this system, the N2A connectin fragment that binds to p94 was shown to suppress p94 autolytic disassembly. The proximity of the IS2 autolytic and connectin-binding sites in p94 suggested that N2A connectin suppresses IS2 autolysis. These data indicate the importance of p94-connectin interaction in the control of p94 functions by regulating autolytic decay of p94.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The giant muscle protein titin is an adjustable molecular spring.

When muscles are stretched, the giant protein titin develops passive force. Titin's force performs important functions that include maintaining the structural integrity of the sarcomere, and triggering signal transduction pathways. We propose that the mechanical properties of titin can be tuned according to the mechanical demands places on muscle, using mechanisms that include alternative splicing and posttranslational modifications.

Calcium↗
PubMed2005

Titin and diaphragm dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

RATIONALE: Recently, we have shown that Ca2+-activated force generation in diaphragm single fibers is impaired in patients with mild to moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). For optimal active-force generation, the passive elasticity provided by titin is indispensable. OBJECTIVES: In the present study, we determined the passive-tension-length relations of single fibers of patients with mild to moderate COPD, hypothesizing that passive-elastic properties of diaphragm fibers are compromised. METHODS: Passive-tension-length relations were determined in diaphragm fibers from patients with and without COPD (predicted mean FEV1, 76 and 102%, respectively). In diaphragm homogenates titin expression was studied at the protein level by gel electrophoresis and at the transcript level by using a novel titin exon microarray. RESULTS: Diaphragm fibers from patients with COPD generate less passive tension on stretch. Titin content in the diaphragm did not differ between patients with and without COPD. However, titin exon transcript studies revealed up-regulation of seven exons, which code for spring elements in the elastic segment rich in proline, glutamate, valine, and lysine. Immunofluorescence analysis indicated elevated protein expression of the up-regulated splice variant in the COPD diaphragm. Simulation studies on titin molecules including the amino acids encoded by the seven up-regulated exons predicted reduced passive-tension generation on molecule stretch. CONCLUSIONS: Passive-tension generation of diaphragm single fibers is reduced in patients with COPD. Our results suggest that alternative splicing of the titin gene, resulting in increased length of the elastic segment rich in proline, glutamate, valine, and lysine, is involved. Interestingly, these changes occur already in patients with mild to moderate COPD.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

MURF-1 and MURF-2 target a specific subset of myofibrillar proteins redundantly: towards understanding MURF-dependent muscle ubiquitination.

MURF-1, MURF-2 and MURF-3 are a specific class of RING finger proteins that are expressed in striated muscle tissues. MURF-1 has been suggested to act as an ubiquitin ligase, thereby controlling proteasome-dependent degradation of muscle proteins. Here, we performed yeast two-hybrid (YTH) screens of skeletal muscle cDNA libraries with MURF-1 baits to identify potential myocellular targets of MURF-1-dependent ubiquitination. This identified eight myofibrillar proteins as binding partners of MURF-1: titin, nebulin, the nebulin-related protein NRAP, troponin-I (TnI), troponin-T (TnT), myosin light chain 2 (MLC-2), myotilin and T-cap. YTH mating studies with MURF-1,2,3 baits indicated that these eight myofibrillar proteins are all targeted redundantly by both MURF-1 and MURF-2. Western blot studies on cardiac tissues from wild-type and MURF-1-deficient mice suggested that titin and nebulin were ubiquitinated at similar levels, and MLC-2 and TnI at reduced levels in MURF-1 KO mice. Mapping of the TnI and titin binding sites on MURF-1 peptide scans demonstrated their binding to motifs highly conserved between MURF-1 and MURF-2. Our data are consistent with a model in which MURF-1 and MURF-2 together target a specific set of myofibrillar proteins redundantly, most likely to control their ubiquitination-dependent degradation. Finally, our YTH screens identified the interaction of MURF-1 with 11 enzymes required for ATP/energy production in muscle including the mitochondrial ATP synthase and cytoplasmic creatine kinase. These data raise the possibility that MURF-1 may coordinately regulate the energy metabolism of mitochondrial and cytoplasmic compartments.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

Dimerization of the cardiac ankyrin protein CARP: implications for MARP titin-based signaling.

Cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP) and its two close homologs ankrd2 (Arpp) and DARP correspond to a conserved gene family of muscle ankyrin repeat proteins (MARPs). All three genes respond to a variety of stress/strain injury signals with their cytokine-like induction and can associate with the elastic region of titin/connectin. Recently, both CARP and ankrd2 were observed to be elevated in cardiac diseases as well as muscular dystrophies, implicating their joined signaling in muscle diseases. Here we show that CARP in the yeast two-hybrid system (YTH) interacts with itself and desmin. To further verify the YTH data and to investigate possible CARP subunit structure(s), we expressed CARP in E. coli. Expressed CARP has an apparent mobility of about 70 kDa on gel filtration, corresponding to a dimeric species. Yeast two-hybrid experiments using amino- and carboxyterminal deletion clones suggest that CARP, ankrd2, and DARP contain potential coiled-coil dimerization motifs within their unique aminoterminal domains that mediate the formation of homo-dimers. In contrast, we could not detect the formation of hetero-dimers between CARP, ankrd2, and DARP. Therefore, when CARP, ankrd2 and DARP are upregulated in disease/stress states, they are likely to be sorted into distinct structural protein complexes since CARP within the MARP family contains a unique aminoterminal dimerization motif.

Ankyrin Repeat↗
PubMed2005

The function of elastic proteins in the oscillatory contraction of insect flight muscle.

Oscillatory contraction of asynchronous insect flight muscle is activated by periodic stretches at constant low concentrations of Ca2+. The fibres must be relatively stiff to respond to small length changes occurring at high frequency. Several proteins in the flight muscle may determine the overall stiffness of the fibres. The Drosophila sallimus (sls) gene codes for multiple isoforms with a modular structure made up of immunoglobulin (Ig) and elastic PEVK domains, unique sequence, and a few fibronectin (Fn) domains at the end of the molecule. Kettin, derived from the sls gene, has Ig domains separated by linker sequences and is bound to actin near the Z-disc; the C-terminus is associated with the end of the A-band. Flight muscle also has longer isoforms of Sls, with extensible PEVK sequence, and C-terminal Fn domains; all extend from the Z-disc to the end of the A-band. Projectin, from a different gene, has repeating modules of Fn and Ig domains, and is associated with the end of thick filaments; tandem Ig and PEVK domains at the N-terminus are in the I-band. Projectin, kettin and other Sls isoforms form a mechanical link between thick and thin filaments; all are probably part of the connecting filaments, which branch from the thick filaments and are linked to actin near the Z-disc. The elasticity of fibres may depend on the relative amounts of those isoforms with extensible PEVK sequence. Flightin is bound on the outside of thick filaments and maintains the stiffness necessary for the transmission of stress along the filaments. Insect flight muscle has multiple elastic proteins to give the sarcomere the optimum compliance necessary for high frequency oscillatory contraction.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Limb girdle muscular dystrophy in a sibling pair with a homozygous Ser606Leu mutation in the alternatively spliced IS2 region of calpain 3.

Previous family studies revealed a large number of calpain 3 ( CAPN3 ) mutations that cause recessive forms of limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD2A) with selective atrophy of the proximal limb muscles. Correlations between the nature and site of a particular mutation and its corresponding phenotype, however, can only be established from homozygous mutations, which are particularly rare in the alternatively spliced NS, IS1 and IS2 regions of CAPN3. Here we identified a sibling pair with LGMD2A-type muscular dystrophy caused by a homozygous Ser606Leu (S606L) substitution in the IS2 linker domain. Normal protein levels, unaltered myofibrillar targeting and conserved calcium-induced autocatalytic activity of the mutated protein could be demonstrated in muscle biopsies from one patient. Despite this inconspicuous modification of the IS2 linker between domains III and IV, both patients developed signs and symptoms of the disease within their second decade of life. The unexpected severity of the clinical manifestation points to the high relevance of the calpain 3-specific IS2 segment between domains III and IV. We conclude that the structural motif around the Ser606 residue represents an important functional site that may regulate the transient activation and limited proteolysis of calpain 3.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed2004

Altered titin expression, myocardial stiffness, and left ventricular function in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUND: The role of the giant protein titin in patients with heart failure is not well established. We investigated titin expression in patients with end-stage heart failure resulting from nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, in particular as it relates to left ventricular (LV) myocardial stiffness and LV function. METHODS AND RESULTS: SDS-agarose gels revealed small N2B (stiff) and large N2BA (compliant) cardiac titin isoforms with a mean N2BA:N2B expression ratio that was significantly (P<0.003) increased in 20 heart failure patients versus 6 controls. However, total titin was unchanged. The coexpression ratio was highest in a subsample of patients with an impaired LV relaxation pattern (n=7), intermediate in those with pseudonormal filling (n=6), and lowest in the group with restrictive filling (n=7). Mechanical measurements on LV muscle strips dissected from these hearts (n=8) revealed that passive muscle stiffness was significantly reduced in patients with a high N2BA:N2B expression ratio. Clinical correlations support the relevance of these changes for LV function (assessed by invasive hemodynamics and Doppler echocardiography). A positive correlation between the N2BA:N2B titin isoform ratio and deceleration time of mitral E velocity, A wave transit time, and end diastolic volume/pressure ratio was found. These changes affect exercise tolerance, as indicated by the positive correlation between the N2BA:N2B isoform ratio and peak O2 consumption (n=10). Upregulated N2BA expression was accompanied by increased expression levels of titin-binding proteins (cardiac ankyrin repeat protein, ankrd2, and diabetes ankyrin repeat protein) that bind to the N2A element of N2BA titin (studied in 13 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Total titin content was unchanged in end-stage failing hearts and the more compliant N2BA isoform comprised a greater percentage of titin in these hearts. Changes in titin isoform expression in heart failure patients with dilated cardiomyopathy significantly impact diastolic filling by lowering myocardial stiffness. Upregulation of titin-binding proteins indicates that the importance of altered titin expression might extend to cell signaling and regulation of gene expression.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Muscle-specific RING finger-2 (MURF-2) is important for microtubule, intermediate filament and sarcomeric M-line maintenance in striated muscle development.

The efficient functioning of striated muscle is dependent upon the structure of several cytoskeletal networks including myofibrils, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. However, little is known about how these networks function together during muscle differentiation and maintenance. In vitro studies suggest that members of the muscle-specific RING finger protein family (MURF-1, 2, and 3) act as cytoskeletal adaptors and signaling molecules by associating with myofibril components (including the giant protein, titin), microtubules and/or nuclear factors. We investigated the role of MURF-2, the least-characterized family member, in primary cultures of embryonic chick skeletal and cardiac myocytes. MURF-2 is detected as two species (approximately 55 kDa and approximately 60 kDa) in embryonic muscle, which are down-regulated in adult muscle. Although predominantly located diffusely in the cytoplasm, MURF-2 also colocalizes with a sub-group of microtubules and the M-line region of titin. Reducing MURF-2 levels in cardiac myocytes using antisense oligonucleotides perturbed the structure of stable microtubule populations, the intermediate filament proteins desmin and vimentin, and the sarcomeric M-line region. In contrast, other sarcomeric regions and dynamic microtubules remained unaffected. MURF-2 knock-down studies in skeletal myoblasts also delayed myoblast fusion and myofibrillogenesis. Furthermore, contractile activity was also affected. We speculate that some of the roles of MURF-2 are modulated via titin-based mechanisms.

Animals↗