Acute Inotropic and Lusitropic Effects of Cardiomyopathic R9C Mutation of Phospholamban Journal Article


Authors: Abrol, N.; de Tombe, P. P.; Robia, S. L.
Article Title: Acute Inotropic and Lusitropic Effects of Cardiomyopathic R9C Mutation of Phospholamban
Abstract: A naturally-occurring Arg9Cys mutation (R9C) of phospholamban (PLB) triggers cardiomyopathy and premature death by altering regulation of sarco/endoplasmic reticulum calcium-ATPase (SERCA). The goal of this study was to investigate the acute physiological consequences of R9C-PLB mutation on cardiomyocyte calcium kinetics and contractility. We measured the physiological consequences of R9C-PLB mutation on calcium transients and sarcomere shortening in adult cardiomyocytes. In contrast to studies of chronic R9C-PLB expression in transgenic mice, we found that acute expression of R9C-PLB exerts a positively inotropic and lusitropic effect in cardiomyocytes. Importantly, R9C-PLB exhibited blunted sensitivity to frequency potentiation and beta-adrenergic stimulation, two major physiological mechanisms for the regulation of cardiac performance. To identify the molecular mechanism of R9C pathology, we quantified the effect of R9C on PLB oligomerization and PLB-SERCA binding. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements in live cells revealed that R9C-PLB exhibited an increased propensity for oligomerization, and this was further increased by oxidative stress. The R9C also decreased PLB binding to SERCA, and altered the structure of the PLB-SERCA regulatory complex. The structure change after oxidative modification of R9C-PLB is similar to that observed after PLB phosphorylation. We conclude that R9C mutation of PLB decreases SERCA inhibition by decreasing the amount of the regulatory complex and altering its conformation. This has an acute inotropic/lusitropic effect, but yields negative consequences of impaired frequency potentiation and blunted beta-adrenergic responsiveness. We envision a self-reinforcing mechanism beginning with phosphomimetic R9C-PLB oxidation and loss of SERCA inhibition, leading to impaired calcium regulation and heart failure.
Journal Title: The Journal of biological chemistry
Volume: 290
Issue: 11
ISSN: 1083-351X; 0021-9258
Publisher: The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology  
Date Published: 2015
Start Page: 7130
Language: ENG
DOI/URL:
Notes: LR: 20150117; CI: Copyright (c) 2015; JID: 2985121R; OTO: NOTNLM; aheadofprint