cGMP‐dependent protein kinase decreases calcium sensitivity of skinned cardiac fibers

Chemically skinned (Lubrol WX) cardiac muscle fibers produce half-maximum isometric tension at pCa 6.18 (pH 6.7) in presence of MgATP (10 mM). After addition of cGMP (5 microM) and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (0.1 microM), the pCa required for half-maximum activation is 5.96, while maximum tension is not affected. Similar shifts in the tension/pCa-relationship have been observed after incubation of skinned cardiac muscle fibers with cAMP of catalytic subunit of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The shift in the Ca2+-sensitivity is associated with an increased incorporation of radioactivity into a Mr 28000 band (presumably troponin-I) and a Mr 145000 band.