Skip to main content
Biophysical Journal logoLink to Biophysical Journal
. 1996 May;70(5):2316–2326. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(96)79797-7

Phosphate release and force generation in cardiac myocytes investigated with caged phosphate and caged calcium.

A Araujo 1, J W Walker 1
PMCID: PMC1225206  PMID: 9172755

Abstract

The phosphate (P(i)) dissociation step of the cross-bridge cycle was investigated in skinned rat ventricular myocytes to examine its role in force generation and Ca(2+) regulation in cardiac muscle. Pulse photolysis of caged P(i) (alpha-carboxyl-2-nitrobenzyl phosphate) produced up to 3 mM P(i) within the filament lattice, resulting in an approximately exponential decline in steady-state tension. The apparent rate constant, k (rho i), increased linearly with total P(i) concentration (initial plus photoreleased), giving an apparent second-order rate constant for P(i) binding of 3100 M(-1) s(-1), which is intermediate in value between fast and slow skeletal muscles. A decrease in the level of Ca(2+) activation to 20% of maximum tension reduced k (rho i) by twofold and increased the relative amplitude by threefold, consistent with modulation of P(i) release by Ca2+. A three-state model, with separate but coupled transitions for force generation and P(i) dissociation, and a Ca(2+)-sensitive forward rate constant for force generation, was compatible with the data. There was no evidence for a slow phase of tension decline observed previously in fast skeletal fibers at low Ca(2+), suggesting differences in cooperative mechanisms in cardiac and skeletal muscle. In separate experiments, tension development was initiated from a relaxed state by photolysis of caged Ca(2+). The apparent rate constant, k(Ca), was accelerated in the presence of high P(i) consistent with close coupling between force generation and P(i) dissociation, even when force development was initiated from a relaxed state. k(Ca) was also dependent on the level of Ca(2+) activation. However, significant quantitative differences between k (rho i) and k(Ca), including different sensitivities to Ca(2+) and P(i) indicate that caged Ca(2+) tension transients are influenced by additional Ca(2+)-dependent but P i-independent steps that occur before P(i) release. Data from both types of measurements suggest that kinetic transitions associated with P(i) dissociation are modulated by the Ca(2+) regulatory system and partially limit the physiological rate of tension development in cardiac muscle.

Full text

PDF
2316

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Araujo A., Walker J. W. Kinetics of tension development in skinned cardiac myocytes measured by photorelease of Ca2+. Am J Physiol. 1994 Nov;267(5 Pt 2):H1643–H1653. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1994.267.5.H1643. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Barsotti R. J., Ferenczi M. A. Kinetics of ATP hydrolysis and tension production in skinned cardiac muscle of the guinea pig. J Biol Chem. 1988 Nov 15;263(32):16750–16756. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Bowater R., Sleep J. Demembranated muscle fibers catalyze a more rapid exchange between phosphate and adenosine triphosphate than actomyosin subfragment 1. Biochemistry. 1988 Jul 12;27(14):5314–5323. doi: 10.1021/bi00414a055. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Brenner B. Effect of Ca2+ on cross-bridge turnover kinetics in skinned single rabbit psoas fibers: implications for regulation of muscle contraction. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 May;85(9):3265–3269. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.9.3265. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dantzig J. A., Goldman Y. E., Millar N. C., Lacktis J., Homsher E. Reversal of the cross-bridge force-generating transition by photogeneration of phosphate in rabbit psoas muscle fibres. J Physiol. 1992;451:247–278. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1992.sp019163. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Dantzig J. A., Walker J. W., Trentham D. R., Goldman Y. E. Relaxation of muscle fibers with adenosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (ATP[gamma S]) and by laser photolysis of caged ATP[gamma S]: evidence for Ca2+-dependent affinity of rapidly detaching zero-force cross-bridges. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1988 Sep;85(18):6716–6720. doi: 10.1073/pnas.85.18.6716. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ellis-Davies G. C., Kaplan J. H. Nitrophenyl-EGTA, a photolabile chelator that selectively binds Ca2+ with high affinity and releases it rapidly upon photolysis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1994 Jan 4;91(1):187–191. doi: 10.1073/pnas.91.1.187. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Fabiato A. Computer programs for calculating total from specified free or free from specified total ionic concentrations in aqueous solutions containing multiple metals and ligands. Methods Enzymol. 1988;157:378–417. doi: 10.1016/0076-6879(88)57093-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hibberd M. G., Dantzig J. A., Trentham D. R., Goldman Y. E. Phosphate release and force generation in skeletal muscle fibers. Science. 1985 Jun 14;228(4705):1317–1319. doi: 10.1126/science.3159090. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Hibberd M. G., Trentham D. R. Relationships between chemical and mechanical events during muscular contraction. Annu Rev Biophys Biophys Chem. 1986;15:119–161. doi: 10.1146/annurev.bb.15.060186.001003. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Homsher E., Millar N. C. Caged compounds and striated muscle contraction. Annu Rev Physiol. 1990;52:875–896. doi: 10.1146/annurev.ph.52.030190.004303. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Huxley A. F., Simmons R. M. Proposed mechanism of force generation in striated muscle. Nature. 1971 Oct 22;233(5321):533–538. doi: 10.1038/233533a0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Kawai M., Halvorson H. R. Two step mechanism of phosphate release and the mechanism of force generation in chemically skinned fibers of rabbit psoas muscle. Biophys J. 1991 Feb;59(2):329–342. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(91)82227-5. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Kawai M., Saeki Y., Zhao Y. Crossbridge scheme and the kinetic constants of elementary steps deduced from chemically skinned papillary and trabecular muscles of the ferret. Circ Res. 1993 Jul;73(1):35–50. doi: 10.1161/01.res.73.1.35. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Kentish J. C. The effects of inorganic phosphate and creatine phosphate on force production in skinned muscles from rat ventricle. J Physiol. 1986 Jan;370:585–604. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1986.sp015952. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Lanzetta P. A., Alvarez L. J., Reinach P. S., Candia O. A. An improved assay for nanomole amounts of inorganic phosphate. Anal Biochem. 1979 Nov 15;100(1):95–97. doi: 10.1016/0003-2697(79)90115-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Lu Z., Moss R. L., Walker J. W. Tension transients initiated by photogeneration of MgADP in skinned skeletal muscle fibers. J Gen Physiol. 1993 Jun;101(6):867–888. doi: 10.1085/jgp.101.6.867. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lund J., Webb M. R., White D. C. Changes in the ATPase activity of insect fibrillar flight muscle during calcium and strain activation probed by phosphate-water oxygen exchange. J Biol Chem. 1987 Jun 25;262(18):8584–8590. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Luo Y., Cooke R., Pate E. Effect of series elasticity on delay in development of tension relative to stiffness during muscle activation. Am J Physiol. 1994 Dec;267(6 Pt 1):C1598–C1606. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1994.267.6.C1598. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Martin H., Barsotti R. J. Relaxation from rigor of skinned trabeculae of the guinea pig induced by laser photolysis of caged ATP. Biophys J. 1994 Apr;66(4):1115–1128. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(94)80892-6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Matsubara I., Maughan D. W., Saeki Y., Yagi N. Cross-bridge movement in rat cardiac muscle as a function of calcium concentration. J Physiol. 1989 Oct;417:555–565. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1989.sp017818. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Metzger J. M., Greaser M. L., Moss R. L. Variations in cross-bridge attachment rate and tension with phosphorylation of myosin in mammalian skinned skeletal muscle fibers. Implications for twitch potentiation in intact muscle. J Gen Physiol. 1989 May;93(5):855–883. doi: 10.1085/jgp.93.5.855. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Millar N. C., Homsher E. Kinetics of force generation and phosphate release in skinned rabbit soleus muscle fibers. Am J Physiol. 1992 May;262(5 Pt 1):C1239–C1245. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.1992.262.5.C1239. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Millar N. C., Homsher E. The effect of phosphate and calcium on force generation in glycerinated rabbit skeletal muscle fibers. A steady-state and transient kinetic study. J Biol Chem. 1990 Nov 25;265(33):20234–20240. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Moss R. L., Lauer M. R., Giulian G. G., Greaser M. L. Altered Ca2+ dependence of tension development in skinned skeletal muscle fibers following modification of troponin by partial substitution with cardiac troponin C. J Biol Chem. 1986 May 5;261(13):6096–6099. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Palmer S., Kentish J. C. The role of troponin C in modulating the Ca2+ sensitivity of mammalian skinned cardiac and skeletal muscle fibres. J Physiol. 1994 Oct 1;480(Pt 1):45–60. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1994.sp020339. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Pate E., Cooke R. Addition of phosphate to active muscle fibers probes actomyosin states within the powerstroke. Pflugers Arch. 1989 May;414(1):73–81. doi: 10.1007/BF00585629. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Thirlwell H., Corrie J. E., Reid G. P., Trentham D. R., Ferenczi M. A. Kinetics of relaxation from rigor of permeabilized fast-twitch skeletal fibers from the rabbit using a novel caged ATP and apyrase. Biophys J. 1994 Dec;67(6):2436–2447. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(94)80730-1. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Walker J. W., Lu Z., Moss R. L. Effects of Ca2+ on the kinetics of phosphate release in skeletal muscle. J Biol Chem. 1992 Feb 5;267(4):2459–2466. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Webb M. R., Hibberd M. G., Goldman Y. E., Trentham D. R. Oxygen exchange between Pi in the medium and water during ATP hydrolysis mediated by skinned fibers from rabbit skeletal muscle. Evidence for Pi binding to a force-generating state. J Biol Chem. 1986 Nov 25;261(33):15557–15564. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. White H. D., Taylor E. W. Energetics and mechanism of actomyosin adenosine triphosphatase. Biochemistry. 1976 Dec 28;15(26):5818–5826. doi: 10.1021/bi00671a020. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Wolff M. R., McDonald K. S., Moss R. L. Rate of tension development in cardiac muscle varies with level of activator calcium. Circ Res. 1995 Jan;76(1):154–160. doi: 10.1161/01.res.76.1.154. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Biophysical Journal are provided here courtesy of The Biophysical Society

RESOURCES