The ΔK210 mutation in troponin-T reduces contractility, causes cellular hypertrophy, and impairs cardiomyocytes' ability to adapt to changes in substrate stiffness.
The ΔK210 mutation in troponin-T links molecular defects to cellular phenotypes in familial DCM by altering mechanosensing and reducing contractility.
Familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a leading cause of sudden cardiac death and a major indicator for heart transplant. The disease is frequently caused by mutations of sarcomeric proteins; however, it is not well understood how these molecular mutations lead to alterations in cellular organization and contractility. To address this critical gap in our knowledge, we studied the molecular and cellular consequences of a DCM mutation in troponin-T, ΔK210. We determined the molecular mechanism of ΔK210 and used computational modeling to predict that the mutation should reduce the force per sarcomere. In mutant cardiomyocytes, we found that ΔK210 not only reduces contractility but also causes cellular hypertrophy and impairs cardiomyocytes' ability to adapt to changes in substrate stiffness (e.g., heart tissue fibrosis that occurs with aging and disease). These results help link the molecular and cellular phenotypes and implicate alterations in mechanosensing as an important factor in the development of DCM.
Clippinger et al. (Mon,) conducted a other in Familial dilated cardiomyopathy. ΔK210 mutation in troponin-T was evaluated on Molecular and cellular consequences (contractility, cellular hypertrophy, mechanosensing). The ΔK210 mutation in troponin-T reduces contractility, causes cellular hypertrophy, and impairs cardiomyocytes' ability to adapt to changes in substrate stiffness.