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Modulation of cardiac function by essential myosin light chains in health and disease

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Molecular Approaches to Heart Failure Therapy

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Abstract

Cardiac contraction is performed by the ATP-consuming cyclic interaction of the “molecular motor” myosin with the actin filament. The myosin heavy chain (MHC) contains the actin and ATP binding sites. Two different MHC genes (α and β) with distinct biochemical features are expressed in the human atrium, but only the β-MHC is expressed in the ventricle. Mutations in genes coding for ventricular myosin subunits are associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Motor function could be tuned by essential myosin light chain (MLC-1) isoforms. Expression of the atrial MLC-1 isoform in the hypertrophied human ventricle increases cross-bridge cycling kinetics and contractility. It is suggested that MLC-1 acts as a MHC/actin tether. Weakening of this tether increased myosin function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch and Humboldt-University, Medical Faculty (Charité), Institute of Physiology, Berlin, Germany

    I. Morano

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  1. I. Morano
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zentrum Innere Medizin, Abt. Kardiologie und Pneumologie, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Robert-Koch-Straße 40, Göttingen, D-37075, Germany

    Gerd Hasenfuss

  2. Section of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, The Johns Hopkins University, 844 Ross Building, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Eduardo Marbán M.D., Ph.D. (Professor of Medicine and Physiology) (Professor of Medicine and Physiology)

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© 2000 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Morano, I. (2000). Modulation of cardiac function by essential myosin light chains in health and disease. In: Hasenfuss, G., Marbán, E. (eds) Molecular Approaches to Heart Failure Therapy. Steinkopff, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57710-9_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-57710-9_19

  • Publisher Name: Steinkopff, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-63332-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-57710-9

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