To better understand how skeletal muscle myosin molecules move actin filaments, we determine the motion-generating biochemistry of a single myosin molecule and study how it scales with the motion-generating biochemistry of an ensemble of myosin molecules. First, by measuring the effects of various ligands (ATP, ADP, and P(i)) on event lifetimes, tau(on), in a laser trap, we determine the biochemical kinetics underlying the stepwise movement of an actin filament generated by a single myosin molecule. Next, by measuring the effects of these same ligands on actin velocities, V, in an in vitro motility assay, we determine the biochemistry underlying the continuous movement of an actin filament generated by an ensemble of myosin molecules. The observed effects of P(i) on single molecule mechanochemistry indicate that motion generation by a single myosin molecule is closely associated with actin-induced P(i) dissociation. We obtain additional evidence for this relationship by measuring changes in single molecule mechanochemistry caused by a smooth muscle HMM mutation that results in a reduced P(i)-release rate. In contrast, we observe that motion generation by an ensemble of myosin molecules is limited by ATP-induced actin dissociation (i.e., V varies as 1/tau(on)) at low [ATP], but deviates from this relationship at high [ATP]. The single-molecule data uniquely provide a direct measure of the fundamental mechanochemistry of the actomyosin ATPase reaction under a minimal load and serve as a clear basis for a model of ensemble motility in which actin-attached myosin molecules impose a load.

Comparison of mammalian cardiac ␣-and ␤-myosin heavy chain isoforms reveals 93% identity. To date, genetic methodologies have effected only minor switches in the mammalian cardiac myosin isoforms. Using cardiac-specific transgenesis, we have now obtained major myosin isoform shifts and/or replacements. Clusters of non-identical amino acids are found in functionally important regions, i.e. the surface loops 1 and 2, suggesting that these structures may regulate isoform-specific characteristics. Loop 1 alters filament sliding velocity, whereas Loop 2 modulates actin-activated ATPase rate in Dictyostelium myosin, but this remains untested in mammalian cardiac myosins. ␣ 3 ␤ isoform switches were engineered into mouse hearts via transgenesis. To assess the structural basis of isoform diversity, chimeric myosins in which the sequences of either Loop 1؉Loop 2 or Loop 2 of ␣-myosin were exchanged for those of ␤-myosin were expressed in vivo. 2-fold differences in filament sliding velocity and ATPase activity were found between the two isoforms. Filament sliding velocity of the Loop 1؉Loop 2 chimera and the ATPase activities of both loop chimeras were not significantly different compared with ␣-myosin. In mouse cardiac isoforms, myosin functionality does not depend on Loop 1 or Loop 2 sequences and must lie partially in other non-homologous residues.Myosin, the molecular motor of the heart, generates force and motion by coupling its ATPase activity to its cyclic interaction with actin. Myosin is a hexameric protein and is composed of two heavy chains (MHC) 1 and two essential and two regulatory myosin light chains. Structurally, MHC is composed of a number of discrete domains: a helical rod necessary for thick filament formation, and a globular head that contains the actin-binding site, catalytic, and motor domains (1).In the mammalian heart, two functionally distinct MHC isoforms, termed V 1 and V 3 , are present. V 1 is a homodimer of two ␣-MHC molecules, whereas V 3 is a ␤␤-homodimer. Expression of V 1 and V 3 is controlled both developmentally and hormonally. In the mouse, ␤-MHC expression in the ventricles predominates prenatally. However, via thyroid hormone regulation, ␤-MHC expression is silenced at birth, and ␣-MHC is transcribed (2). The functional differences between V 1 and V 3 myosin in terms of shortening velocity, force generation, and ATPase activity are profound. For example, rabbit V 1 myosin has a 2-3-fold faster actin filament sliding velocity than V 3 , but generates only half the average isometric force (3, 4). Likewise, both the Ca 2ϩ -stimulated and actin-activated ATPase activities of rabbit V 1 myosin are ϳ2-3 times greater than for V 3 myosin (3, 5). Similar differences in actin velocity and myofibrillar ATPase activity have been observed between mouse V 1

Two myosin isoforms are expressed in myocardium, alphaalpha-homodimers (V(1)) and betabeta-homodimers (V(3)). V(1) exhibits higher velocities and myofibrillar ATPase activities compared with V(3). We also observed this for cardiac myosin from normal (V(1)) and propylthiouracil-treated (V(3)) mice. Actin velocity in a motility assay (V(actin)) over V(1) myosin was twice that of V(3) as was the myofibrillar ATPase. Myosin's average force (F(avg)) was similar for V(1) and V(3). Comparing V(actin) and F(avg) across species for both V(1) and V(3), our laboratory showed previously (VanBuren P, Harris DE, Alpert NR, and Warshaw DM. Circ Res 77: 439-444, 1995) that mouse V(1) has greater V(actin) and F(avg) compared with rabbit V(1). Mouse V(3) V(actin) was twice that of rabbit V(actin). To understand myosin's molecular structure and function, we compared alpha- and beta-cardiac myosin sequences from rodents and rabbits. The rabbit alpha- and beta-cardiac myosin differed by eight and four amino acids, respectively, compared with rodents. These residues are localized to both the motor domain and the rod. These differences in sequence and mechanical performance may be an evolutionary attempt to match a myosin's mechanical behavior to the heart's power requirements.

To better understand the molecular basis for some of the unique mechanical properties of tonic smooth muscle, we use a laser trap to assay the mechanochemistry of single smooth muscle heavy meromyosin molecules lacking a seven-amino acid insert in the nucleotide binding loop (minus insert). We measured a second-order ATP-induced actin dissociation rate, k T , of 2. , and an ADP affinity, K D , of 3.2 M, which is more than 100-fold greater than that measured for skeletal muscle myosin. By performing in vitro motility studies under nearly identical conditions, we show that the relatively slow actin velocity generated by minus-insert heavy meromyosin is significantly influenced, but not limited, by k ؊D . Our results support a model in which two separate intermediate steps in the actin-myosin catalyzed ATP hydrolysis reaction are energetically coupled through mechanical interactions, and we discuss this model in the context of the ability of tonic muscle to maintain high forces at low energetic cost (latch).Muscle shortening and force generation result from actinmyosin binding events that are coupled to the actin-myosin catalyzed ATP hydrolysis reaction illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon binding to an actin filament (A) and releasing inorganic phosphate (P i ), myosin undergoes a large and discrete rotation of its lever-like light chain domain, which is capable of generating both motion and force (1-5). With the subsequent release of ADP (at the rate k ϪD ) an additional rotation of the light chain domain of myosin has been observed in smooth muscle myosin (6, 7), but unlike the work generating rotation associated with actin binding/P i release, the rotation associated with ADP release is thought to be a strain-sensing biochemical step (8 -10). Following the release of ADP, ATP binding induces the detachment of myosin from the actin filament (at the rate k T ), after which ATP is hydrolyzed.Muscles differ significantly in their shortening speeds and force-generating capacities. For instance, smooth muscle produces a greater average force per myosin and slower speeds of shortening than skeletal muscle (11). To a large extent these mechanical differences are caused by kinetic differences among the different myosin isoforms that exist within different muscle types (12, 13). For example, phasic and tonic smooth muscle (found in the intestine and aorta respectively) express two myosin heavy chain isoforms that differ by a seven-amino acid insert in a surface loop spanning their nucleotide binding pocket (14 -16). Phasic smooth muscle contains primarily the plus-insert myosin, whereas tonic smooth muscle contains primarily the minus-insert myosin. In addition, two essential light chain isoforms are coordinately expressed with the heavy chain isoforms. The acidic isoform (LC 17a ) is coexpressed with the plus-insert heavy chain whereas the basic isoform (LC 17b ) coexpresses with the minus-insert heavy chain (17-19). Based on in vitro motility studies, the presence or absence of the sevenamino acid insert in the heavy chain is t...

. Molecular and phenotypic effects of heterozygous, homozygous, and compound heterozygote myosin heavy-chain mutations. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 288: H1097-H1102, 2005. First published November 4, 2004 doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00650.2004.-Autosomal dominant familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) has variable penetrance and phenotype. Heterozygous mutations in MYH7 encoding ␤-myosin heavy chain are the most common causes of FHC, and we proposed that "enhanced" mutant actin-myosin function is the causative molecular abnormality. We have studied individuals from families in which members have two, one, or no mutant MYH7 alleles to examine for dose effects. In one family, a member homozygous for Lys207Gln had cardiomyopathy complicated by left ventricular dilatation, systolic impairment, atrial fibrillation, and defibrillator interventions. Only one of five heterozygous relatives had FHC. Leu908Val and Asp906Gly mutations were detected in a second family in which penetrance for Leu908Val heterozygotes was 46% (21/46) and 25% (3/12) for Asp906Gly. Despite the low penetrance, hypertrophy was severe in several heterozygotes. Two individuals with both mutations developed severe FHC. The velocities of actin translocation (V actin) by mutant and wild-type (WT) myosins were compared in the in vitro motility assay. Compared with WT/WT, V actin was 34% faster for WT/D906G and 21% for WT/L908V. Surprisingly V actin for Leu908Val/Asp906Gly and Lys207Gln/Lys207Gln mutants were similar to WT. The apparent enhancement of mechanical performance with mutant/WT myosin was not observed for mutant/mutant myosin. This suggests that V actin may be a poor predictor of disease penetrance or severity and that power production may be more appropriate, or that the limited availability of double mutant patients prohibits any definitive conclusions. Finally, severe FHC in heterozygous individuals can occur despite very low penetrance, suggesting these mutations alone are insufficient to cause FHC and that uncharacterized modifying mechanisms exert powerful influences.