Mj. Tyska et al., Single-molecule mechanics of R403Q cardiac myosin isolated from the mouse model of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, CIRCUL RES, 86(7), 2000, pp. 737-744
Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) is an inherited cardiac disease
that can result in sudden death in the absence of any overt symptoms. Many
of the cases documented to date have been linked with missense mutations in
the beta-myosin heavy chain gene. Here we present data detailing the funct
ional impact of one of the most deadly mutations, R403Q, on myosin motor fu
nction. Experiments were performed on whole cardiac myosin purified from a
mouse model of FHC to eliminate potential uncertainties associated with pro
tein expression systems. The R403Q mutant myosin demonstrated 2.3-fold high
er actin-activated ATPase activity, 2.2-fold greater average force generati
on, and 1.6-fold faster actin filament sliding in the motility assay. The f
orce- and displacement-generating capacities of both the normal and mutant
myosin were also characterized at the single molecule level in the laser tr
ap assay. Both control and mutant generated similar unitary forces (approxi
mate to 1 pN) and displacements (approximate to 7 nm) without any differenc
es in event durations. On the basis of the distribution of mean unitary dis
placements, this mutation may possibly perturb the mechanical coordination
between the 2 heads of cardiac myosin. Any of these observations could, alo
ne or possibly in combination, result in abnormal power output and potentia
lly a stimulus for the hypertrophic response.