Voltage-independent calcium release in heart muscle

The Ca2+ that activates contraction in heart muscle is regulated as in skeletal muscle by processes that depend on voltage and intracellular Ca2+ and involve a positive feedback system. How the initial electrical signal is amplified in heart muscle has remained controversial, however. Analogous protein structures from skeletal muscle and heart muscle have been identified physiologically and sequenced; these include the Ca2+ channel of the sarcolemma and the Ca2+ release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Although the parallels found in cardiac and skeletal muscles have provoked valuable experiments in both tissues, separation of the effects of voltage and intracellular Ca2+ on sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release in heart muscle has been imperfect. With the use of caged Ca2+ and flash photolysis in voltage-clamped heart myocytes, effects of membrane potential in heart muscle cells on Ca2+ release from intracellular stores have been studied. Unlike the response in skeletal muscle, voltage across the sarcolemma of heart muscle does not affect the release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, suggesting that other regulatory processes are needed to control Ca2(+)-induced Ca2+ release.     

gCap39, a calcium ion- and polyphosphoinositide-regulated actin capping protein

The polymerization of actin filaments is involved in growth, movement, and cell division. It has been shown that actin polymerization is controlled by gelsolin, whose interactions with actin are activated by calcium ion (Ca2+) and inhibited by membrane polyphosphoinositides (PPI). A smaller Ca2(+)- and PPI-regulated protein, gCap39, which has 49% sequence identity with gelsolin, has been identified by cDNA cloning and protein purification. Like gelsolin, gCap39 binds to the fast-growing (+) end of actin filaments. However, gCap39 does not sever actin filaments and can respond to Ca2+ and PPI transients independently, under conditions in which gelsolin is ineffective. The coexistence of gCap39 with gelsolin should allow precise regulation of actin assembly at the leading edge of the cell.     

Molecular basis for the influence of muscle length on myocardial performance

According to Starling's law of the heart, the force of contraction during the ejection of blood is a function of the end-diastolic volume. To seek the molecular explanation of this effect, a study was made of the effects of length on Ca2+ sensitivity during tension development by isolated demembranated cardiac muscle in which the cardiac form of troponin C was substituted with skeletal troponin C. The results of troponin C exchange were compared at sarcomere lengths of 1.9 and 2.4 micrometers. Enhancement of the myocardial performance at the stretched length was greatly suppressed with the skeletal troponin C compared with the cardiac troponin C. Thus the troponin C subunit of the troponin complex that regulates the activation of actin filaments has intrinsic molecular properties that influence the length-induced autoregulation of myocardial performance and may be a basis for Starling's law of the heart.     

Abnormal coronary function in mice deficient in alpha1H T-type Ca2+ channels

Calcium ion (Ca2+) influx through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels is important for the regulation of vascular tone. Activation of L-type Ca2+ channels initiates muscle contraction; however, the role of T-type Ca2+ channels (T-channels) is not clear. We show that mice deficient in the alpha1H T-type Ca2+ channel (alpha(1)3.2-null) have constitutively constricted coronary arterioles and focal myocardial fibrosis. Coronary arteries isolated from alpha(1)3.2-null arteries showed normal contractile responses, but reduced relaxation in response to acetylcholine and nitroprusside. Furthermore, acute blockade of T-channels with Ni2+ prevented relaxation of wild-type coronary arteries. Thus, Ca2+ influx through alpha1H T-type Ca2+ channels is essential for normal relaxation of coronary arteries.     

Molecular structure of troponin C from chicken skeletal muscle at 3-angstrom resolution

The x-ray structure of chicken skeletal muscle troponin C (TnC), the Ca2+-binding subunit of the troponin complex, shows that the protein is about 70 angstroms long with an unusual dumbbell shape. The carboxyl and amino domains are separated by a single long alpha helix of about nine turns. Only the two high-affinity Ca2+-Mg2+ sites of the COOH-domain are occupied by metal ions resulting in conformational differences between the COOH- and NH2-domains. These differences are probably important in the triggering of muscle contraction by TnC. Also the structure of TnC is relevant in understanding the function of other calcium-regulated proteins, in particular that of calmodulin because of its strong similarity in amino acid sequence.     

牛LncRNA-133a对骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化的影响

【目的】 探讨长链非编码RNA LncRNA-133a对牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化过程的影响。【方法】 利用测序样品3、6、9月龄胎牛及24月龄成年和牛骨骼肌肌肉组织,qRT-PCR法检测LncRNA-133a的组织时序表达谱。构建牛骨骼肌卫星细胞的体外成肌诱导分化模型,模拟牛骨骼肌的生长发育过程,qRT-PCR法检测LncRNA-133a和肌细胞分化标记因子MyoG、MHC的细胞时序表达谱。利用过表达LncRNA-133载体（pCDNA3.1-EGFP-LncRNA-133a） 或LncRNA-133a抑制物（si-LncRNA 133a） 转染牛骨骼肌卫星细胞,qRT-PCR法检测转染效率以及各转染处理组LncRNA-133a、MyoD、MyoG及MHC基因mRNA的表达水平,Western blotting检测MHC 基因的蛋白表达水平;同时,通过EdU细胞增殖检测、免疫荧光蛋白染色技术检测牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖阶段的细胞增殖量和分化阶段的肌管融合程度。【结果】 组织表达谱分析发现LncRNA-133a在3月龄胎牛肌肉组织中表达量最高,6月龄胎牛肌肉组织中次之,9月龄胎牛及成年牛肌肉组织中表达量最低,时序表达呈下降趋势;利用成功构建的牛骨骼肌卫星细胞体外诱导分化模型,进行LncRNA-133a、MyoG、MHC的细胞时序表达谱分析,结果发现在牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化过程中（D0-D3）,肌分化标记因子MyoG、MHC的表达水平逐渐升高,LncRNA-133a的表达在分化阶段呈上升趋势,且分化48 h时（D2）表达量最高;成功构建的过表达LncRNA-133a或抑制LncRNA-133a的牛骨骼肌卫星细胞模型,在增殖期（D0）：与对照组相比,过表达LncRNA-133a处理组EdU增殖染色检测得到EdU阳性细胞数显著增加（P<0.01）,而LncRNA-133a抑制处理组EdU阳性细胞数显著减少（P<0.01）;在分化48 h时（D2）：与对照组相比,LncRNA-133a过表达处理组肌细胞分化标记因子MyoD、MyoG及MHC的mRNA表达水平显著升高（P<0.05）,Western blotting检测MHC蛋白表达量显著增加（P<0.01）,且MHC蛋白的免疫荧光蛋白染色检测观察到融合肌管的体积占比更大;而LncRNA-133a抑制处理组MyoD、MyoG及MHC的mRNA表达水平均降低,其中MyoG显著降低（P<0.05）, MHC蛋白表达量显著减少（P<0.01）,同时MHC蛋白融合肌管的体积占比也降低。【结论】 研究证实LncRNA-133a具有促进牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖及分化的作用,为进一步挖掘LncRNA-133a调节牛骨骼肌卫星细胞增殖分化调控网络机制奠定了基础。     

拳参-413对大鼠离体胸主动脉环的舒张作用机制研究

[目的]研究拳参-413对大鼠离体胸主动脉血管的舒张作用机制。[方法]采用离体血管环灌流方法观察拳参-413在含Ca+或无Ca+的Krebs液孵育条件下对去甲肾上腺素(NA)引起的血管平滑肌收缩的影响,考察拳参-413舒张血管作用的时间依赖性,并观察拳参-413对浓度40和80 mmol/L的KCl引起的血管平滑肌收缩的影响。[结果]拳参-413能舒张NA引起的血管收缩,且呈浓度依赖性;拳参-413(100μmol/L)在30 min达到最大舒张效应;无Ca+组拳参-413抑制NA所致血管平滑肌收缩效应大于含Ca+组;拳参-413对浓度40和80 mmol/L的KCl引起的血管平滑肌收缩均有抑制作用,且两者量效曲线明显上移。[结论]拳参-413可舒张血管平滑肌,其作用机制可能与该药促进NO合成释放,开放钙激活的钾通道以及抑制血管平滑肌细胞外钙内流和内钙释放有关。     

Laser-stimulated luminescence used to measure x-ray diffraction of a contracting striated muscle

An integrating x-ray area detector that operates on the basis of laser-stimulated luminescence was used in a diffraction study of muscle contraction. The area detector has a dynamic range of 1 to 10(5), a sensitivity about 60 times greater with approximately 1/300 as much fog background as x-ray film. It is erasable and reusable but, like film, can integrate at a practically unlimited counting rate. The high sensitivity and wide dynamic range of the detector resulted in a sufficient reduction in the exposure time to make possible the recording of a clear x-ray diffraction pattern, with up to 2.0-nanometer axial spacing, from a contracting frog skeletal muscle in as little as 10 seconds with synchrotron radiation. During the isometric contraction of the muscle, most of the actin diffraction lines increased in intensity without noticeable changes in their peak positions. Changes also occurred in diffraction intensities from the myosin heads. The results indicate that during contraction the structure of the actin filaments differs from that in the rigor state, suggesting a possible structural change in the actin subunits themselves; the myosin heads during contraction retain the axial periodicity of the myosin filament and become aligned in a more perpendicular manner to the actin filaments.     

Free calcium at rest during "catch" in single smooth muscle cells

Tension and intracellular free calcium concentration [( Ca2+]i) were measured simultaneously in single smooth muscle cells isolated from the anterior byssus retractor muscle (ABRM) of Mytilus edulis that were loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fura-2. Electrical stimulation evoked a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i associated with a "catch" contraction. During the catch state, however, [Ca2+]i was effectively at its resting level and was unaffected by 5-hydroxytryptamine, which induced a rapid relaxation from catch. The results indicate that a maintained high [Ca2+]i is not required for the maintenance of catch tension in intact ABRM and that there was no significant change in [Ca2+]i upon abolition of catch.     

oar-miR-133的表达对巴什拜羊骨骼肌细胞增殖和分化的影响

以巴什拜羊为对象,初步研究oar-miR-133的表达与巴什拜羊骨骼肌发育的关系。结果表明,oar-miR-133在巴什拜羊胎儿期第100天的骨骼肌和心肌中高表达;在巴什拜羊骨骼肌发育的不同阶段,oar-miR-133的表达量有明显的变化,在胎儿期的第100天和初生当天前后,骨骼肌中oar-miR-133的表达量均出现上调;当巴什拜羊骨骼肌卫星细胞处于增殖状态时,oar-miR-133表达量较低,而当骨骼肌卫星细胞处于诱导分化状态时,oar-miR-133表达量迅速升高,显著高于增殖状态(P0.05);当骨骼肌卫星细胞中的oar-miR-133表达水平升高时,骨骼肌卫星细胞几乎停止增殖,细胞有相互融合转化为肌管的趋势,同时细胞内可检测到细胞分化的标志基因MyHC基因的表达;生物信息学分析共预测到96个oar-miR-133的靶基因,GO分析及KEGG信号通路分析结果表明,这些基因在细胞内通过参与一些重要的信号通路而发挥其生物学功能。     

关岭牛MyoD基因家族对MyoD1启动子活性的影响

【目的】生肌决定因子(myogenic determination gene,MyoD)家族是肌肉生成过程中参与分子调控作用的一个重要家族。该家族包括MyoD1,Myf5,MyoG和Myf6,只表达在成熟的骨骼肌细胞和其前期细胞中;在其他的非肌细胞中, MyoD基因家族会被抑制。该家族中,MyoD1负责早期胚胎成肌祖细胞的激活并参与胚后骨骼肌的生长、发育和修复等方面的调节,以维持个体骨骼肌的相对稳定,是启动和维持骨骼肌细胞分化和生长的重要因素,具有尤为重要的作用,已成为研究热点。目前MyoD1在多态性和关联性分析等方面的研究较多,表达调控方面主要是研究小鼠、鸡和猪肌细胞生成机理;在牛上对它的研究主要在转录后和翻译水平的表达情况,但对MyoD1在转录调控方面的作用机制还不明确。文章研究关岭牛MyoD基因家族对MyoD1启动子活性的影响,为探讨牛MyoD1的表达调控机制奠定基础。【方法】通过设计特异性引物克隆关岭牛 MyoD基因家族CDS区和MyoD1启动子片段P1和P2;同时利用双酶切的方法分别将CDS区和克隆的启动子序列连入pcDNA3.1（+）和pGL3-Basic基本骨架,构建真核表达载体pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf5、pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf6、pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoD、pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoG和含萤火虫荧光素酶报告基因的报告载体pGL3-P1、pGL3-P2。重组质粒经酶切和测序鉴定后,利用共转染的方法将真核表达载体和报告载体转染小鼠C2C12细胞,30 h后裂解细胞并检测细胞裂解液的双荧光素酶活性。最后根据荧光素酶的相对活性来分析 MyoD基因家族对MyoD1启动子活性的影响。【结果】克隆得到的关岭牛 MyoD基因家族CDS区和MyoD1启动子序列测序正确,载体pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf5、pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf6、pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoD、pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoG、pGL3-P1和pGL3-P2经酶切和测序鉴定,证实载体构建成功;与相应剂量的对照组相比,转染pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf5、 pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf6、pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoD后,pGL3-P1的相对荧光素酶活性明显增强,其中,在转染量为200 ng时增强作用最强,差异显著(P＜0.05);转染pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoG后,虽然对pGL3-P1的相对荧光素酶活性有增强作用,但差异不显著(P＞0.05);而转染pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf5、 pcDNA3.1（+）-Myf6、pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoD、pcDNA3.1（+）-MyoG后,pGL3-P2的相对荧光素酶活性变化不明显 (P＞0.05)。【结论】在小鼠C2C12细胞中外源过表达转录因子MyoD、Myf5、Myf6均能显著提高关岭牛MyoD1启动子全长P1的转录活性(P＜0.05);而外源过表达转录因子 MyoD基因家族不能显著提高关岭牛MyoD1启动子核心区P2的转录活性。说明关岭牛MyoD、Myf5和Myf6转录因子与关岭牛MyoD1启动子的作用位点不在其核心启动子区P2上。     

基于全转录组测序的绵羊胚胎不同发育阶段 骨骼肌circRNA的分析与鉴定

【目的】肉用性状是家养动物的重要性状,尤其是产肉性能与骨骼肌的发育密切相关,对多数动物而言,骨骼肌的生长取决于肌纤维的早期发育。本研究将揭示绵羊（Ovis aries）胚胎期骨骼肌组织发育重要节点、肌纤维的形成及转换机制,探究骨骼肌在动物胚胎期的生长对后续发育潜力的影响。【方法】在前期绵羊胚胎期组织结构试验的基础上,选择肌纤维发育及类型转换的3个重要时间节点：胎龄85 d（D85）、105 d（D105）、135 d（D135）,并对处于这些节点期的中国美利奴绵羊胚胎背最长肌进行全转录组测序。通过生物信息学分析和功能预测筛选出差异表达显著的circRNA,采用实时荧光定量 PCR（qRT-PCR）对其进行验证。【结果】通过条件筛选（|log2| ≥1且P≤0.05）获得差异表达circRNA 1 126个。将3组进行比较,在各时间节点都发现较多的特异性表达circRNA。在D85 vs D135比较组中,特异性差异表达数量最多：共发现差异表达circRNA 374个,上调表达201个,下调表达173个,其中具有4倍以上差异的基因167个,占差异基因的44.7%。对这些差异性表达的circRNA进行GO和KEGG功能分析和靶向预测,富集到与肌肉分化和肌纤维发育相关的能量代谢和信号转导通路,包括MAPK、PI3K-Akt、Ras、Regulation of actin cytoskeleton等。结果表明：在D85至D105期间富集到的差异circRNA多与肌细胞发育调控、细胞增殖和存活、细胞周期等相关,而在D105至D135期间富集到的通路则主要与能量转换、物质运输、RNA转运和DNA修复有关。靶向预测结果通过Cytoscape软件绘制出可视化共表达网络,筛选到circRNA8239、circRNA19073,circRNA2765、circRNA1616等核心调控转录物,并在D105找到调节快慢肌类型转换的关键因子circRNA7527,其靶向作用于bta-miR-135a、bta-miR-615、chi-miR-133a-5p进而调控MEF2C基因。通过3个时间节点的差异表达情况和功能预测描述选取了与肌肉发育相关的4个核心circRNA和其靶向的4个miRNA进行qRT-PCR分析,其基因表达趋势与测序数据一致。【结论】本试验在转录水平上验证了绵羊胚胎发育D85至D105是肌纤维数量的稳定发生期,而D105至D135则是肌纤维的肥大期,由此推断D105可能是绵羊胚胎发育的关键时间窗口。本研究首次基于全转录组测序构建了绵羊胚胎期骨骼肌发育的circRNA图谱,揭示了不同发育阶段的转录组差异,并对绵羊胚胎骨骼肌发育期间重要的调控因子进行挖掘和验证,发现了以MEF2C为靶基因的多个circRNA和miRNA参与MAPK信号通路,为绵羊肌纤维发育分子机制以及其它家畜非编码RNA的研究提供了参考。     

骨骼肌兴奋收缩偶联潜伏期肌浆网内Ca~(2 )变化的研究——细胞化学法及X-射线能量色散谱微区分析

报道了采用红外探测－计算机控制的超低温快速冷冻固定技术、Ｘ－射线能量色散谱微区定量分析及Ｃａ２＋细胞化学技术对骨骼肌收缩潜伏期时肌浆网内的Ｃａ２＋进行了分析,从超微结构形态学的角度对骨骼肌兴奋－收缩偶联发生时,肌浆网内Ｃａ２＋的作用进行了研究,这对揭示骨骼肌兴奋－收缩偶联时,肌浆网内Ｃａ２＋的释放机理研究有重要意义。     

A magnesium current in Paramecium

Recent reappraisals of the role of ionized magnesium in cell function suggest that many cells maintain intracellular free Mg2+ at low concentrations (0.1 to 0.7 mM) and that external agents can influence cell function via changes in intracellular Mg2+ concentration. Depolarization and hyperpolarization of voltage-clamped Paramecium elicited a Mg2(+)-specific current, IMg. Both Co2+ and Mn2+ were able to substitute for Mg2+ as charge carriers, but the resultant currents were reduced compared with Mg2+ currents. Intracellular free Mg2+ concentrations were estimated from the reversal potential of IMg to be about 0.39 mM. The IMg was inhibited when external Ca2+ was removed or a Ca2+ chelator was injected, suggesting that its activation was Ca2(+)-dependent.     

Mitogens and oncogenes can block the induction of specific voltage-gated ion channels

The mechanisms underlying the ontogeny of voltage-gated ion channels in muscle are unknown. Whether expression of voltage-gated channels is dependent on mitogen withdrawal and growth arrest, as is generally true for the induction of muscle-specific gene products, was investigated in the BC3H1 muscle cell line by patch-clamp techniques. Differentiated BC3H1 myocytes expressed functional Ca2+ and Na+ channels that correspond to those found in T tubules of skeletal muscle. However, Ca2+ and Na+ channels were first detected after about 5 days of mitogen withdrawal. In order to test whether cellular oncogenes, as surrogates for exogenous growth factors, could prevent the expression of ion channels whose induction was contingent on mitogen withdrawal, BC3H1 cells were modified by stable transfection with oncogene expression vectors. Expression vectors containing v-erbB, or c-myc under the control of the SV40 promoter, delayed but did not prevent the appearance of functional Ca2+ and Na+ channels. In contrast, transfection with a Val12 c-H-ras vector, or cotransfection of c-myc together with v-erbB, suppressed the formation of functional Ca2+ and Na+ channels for greater than or equal to 4 weeks. Potassium channels were affected neither by mitogenic medium nor by transfected oncogenes. Thus, the selective effects of certain oncogenes on ion channel induction corresponded to the suppressive effects of mitogenic medium.     

Nebulin and N-WASP cooperate to cause IGF-1-induced sarcomeric actin filament formation

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) induces skeletal muscle maturation and enlargement (hypertrophy). These responses require protein synthesis and myofibril formation (myofibrillogenesis). However, the signaling mechanisms of myofibrillogenesis remain obscure. We found that IGF-1-induced phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling formed a complex of nebulin and N-WASP at the Z bands of myofibrils by interfering with glycogen synthase kinase-3β in mice. Although N-WASP is known to be an activator of the Arp2/3 complex to form branched actin filaments, the nebulin-N-WASP complex caused actin nucleation for unbranched actin filament formation from the Z bands without the Arp2/3 complex. Furthermore, N-WASP was required for IGF-1-induced muscle hypertrophy. These findings present the mechanisms of IGF-1-induced actin filament formation in myofibrillogenesis required for muscle maturation and hypertrophy and a mechanism of actin nucleation.     

鸡miR-133a靶向调控BIRC5基因的表达

【目的】研究miR-133a在鸡不同组织中的表达情况,对baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5（BIRC5）进行靶基因的试验验证,探讨鸡miR-133a对BIRC5的靶向调控作用。【方法】采用生物信息学方法对miR-133a靶基因进行预测,并用双荧光素酶报告系统及点突变试验对BIRC5进行靶基因验证,同时运用实时荧光定量PCR检测miR-133a在鸡不同组织中的表达量。【结果】在鸡3′UTR数据库的11 891个基因中预测到287个miR-133a的靶基因;miR-133a在鸡的组织表达谱中显示其在肌肉中的表达量较高,尤其是在骨骼肌中表达量最高;报告基因试验显示BIRC5是miR-133a的靶基因,点突变试验证实了miR-133a在BIRC5上结合的靶位点。【结论】miR-133a是与鸡骨骼肌发育高度相关的miRNA,且鸡BIRC5基因是miR-133a的靶基因。     

Tetrodotoxin and manganese ions: effects on electrical activity and tension in taenia coli of guinea pig

Tetrodotoxin, at concentrations up to 5 x 10(-6) gram per milliliter, has no effect on the spontaneous discharge in the smooth muscle of taenia coli. However, the spontaneous discharge is abolished by Mn(++) at a concentration of 0.5 millimole per liter. The contraction induced by immersing the muscle in isotonic KCl solution is also suppressed in the presence of Mn(++). Because Mn(++) is a specific suppressor of the spike induced by Ca(++) and tetrodotoxin is an inhibitor of the spike induced by Na(+), we suggest that Ca(++) is a charge carrier in the production of spike potential in the smooth muscle and that the entry of intervening Ca(++) through the membrane acts as a trigger for the contraction of smooth muscle.     

机械生长因子在骨骼肌活动中的作用

机械生长因子是一种骨骼肌自分泌/旁分泌的生长因子,来自于胰岛素样生长因子-I基因的选择性剪接表达,只有当肌肉组织承受了过载的机械负荷后,才检测到其表达。机械生长因子的表达是骨骼肌收缩活动的结果,而其表达又进一步调节骨骼肌在结构和功能上对收缩活动的适应。综述了机械生长因子的表达特征、生理功能及在肌肉肥大和损伤修复中的可能机制。