Nuclear CaMKII enhances histone H3 phosphorylation and remodels chromatin during cardiac hypertrophy.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) plays a central role in pathological cardiac hypertrophy, but the mechanisms by which it modulates gene activity in the nucleus to mediate hypertrophic signaling remain unclear. Here, we report that nuclear CaMKII activates cardiac transcription by directly binding to chromatin and regulating the phosphorylation of histone H3 at serine-10. These specific activities are demonstrated both in vitro and in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes.

The new date, new format, new goals and new sponsor of the Archon Genomics X PRIZE competition.

The Archon Genomics X PRIZE presented by MEDCO is a $10 million prize for whole human genome sequencing that will test 100 samples and establish a defined method for determining quality and cost per genome. The contest will entail a head-to-head competition starting on 3 January 2013. The $10 million grand prize will be awarded to the first team to meet all the quality standards.

Critical role of nuclear calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIdeltaB in cardiomyocyte survival in cardiomyopathy.

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) plays a central role in cardiac contractility and heart disease. However, the specific role of alternatively spliced variants of CaMKII in cardiac disease and apoptosis remains poorly explored. Here we report that the deltaB subunit of CaMKII (CaMKIIdeltaB), which is the predominant nuclear isoform of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases in heart muscle, acts as an anti-apoptotic factor and is a novel target of the antineoplastic and cardiomyopathic drug doxorubicin (Dox (adriamycin)).

Calcium phosphate coprecipitation greatly enhances transduction of cardiac myocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells by lentivirus vectors.

Background: Lentivirus vectors provide a delivery system that can both transduce nondividing cells and integrate transgenes into the genome of target cells without cytotoxicity. However, their relatively low transduction efficiency presents a significant obstacle to progress.

Objectives: In the present paper, a simple and easy method using calcium phosphate (CaPi) to enhance the efficiency of lentivirus gene transfer in both vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiac myocytes is reported.

Lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer to endotherial cells compared with adenoviral and retroviral vectors.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, lentivirus) vector has attractive features for gene therapy, including the ability to transduce non-dividing cells and long-term transgene expression. We have already reported that lentivirus vector can transduce well-differentiated rat cardiac myocytes. Endothelial cells (EC) are an attractive target for gene therapy, both for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and for the systemic delivery of recombinant gene products directly into the circulation.

Nuclear Rho kinase, ROCK2, targets p300 acetyltransferase.

Rho-associated coiled-coil protein kinase (ROCK) is an effector for the small GTPase Rho and plays a pivotal role in diverse cellular activities, including cell adhesion, cytokinesis, and gene expression, primarily through an alteration of actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Here, we show that ROCK2 is localized in the nucleus and associates with p300 acetyltransferase both in vitro and in cells. Nuclear ROCK2 is present in a large protein complex and partially cofractionates with p300 by gel filtration analysis.

Leucine 135 of tropomodulin-1 regulates its association with tropomyosin, its cellular localization, and the integrity of sarcomeres.

Tropomodulin-1 (Tmod-1) is a well defined actin-capping protein that interacts with tropomyosin (TM) at the pointed end of actin filaments. Previous studies by others have mapped its TM-binding domain to the amino terminus from amino acid 39 to 138. In this study, we have identified several amino acid residues on Tmod-1 that are important for its interaction with TM5 (a nonmuscle TM isoform).

HERP1 inhibits myocardin-induced vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation by interfering with SRF binding to CArG box.

Objective: Myocardin is a coactivator of serum response factor (SRF) required for vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) differentiation. HERP1 is a transcriptional repressor, which is abundantly expressed in vascular system and is known to function as a target gene of Notch. However, the role of HERP1 in the pathogenesis of vascular lesions remains unknown.

Washout of transplanted cells from the heart: a potential new hurdle for cell transplantation therapy.

Objective: The number of viable transplanted cells in the heart is sharply decreased shortly after cell injection. The exact mechanics of cell loss are unclear. We hypothesized that immature cardiac cells transplanted directly into rat heart could be washed out via the cardiac vasculature, and carried to other organs.

Phosphorylation-dependent degradation of p300 by doxorubicin-activated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in cardiac cells.

p300 and CBP are general transcriptional coactivators implicated in different cellular processes, including regulation of the cell cycle, differentiation, tumorigenesis, and apoptosis. Posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation are predicted to select a specific function of p300/CBP in these processes; however, the identification of the kinases that regulate p300/CBP activity in response to individual stimuli and the physiological significance of p300 phosphorylation have not been elucidated. Here we demonstrate that the cardiotoxic anticancer agent doxorubicin (adriamycin) induces the phosphorylation of p300 in primary neonatal cardiomyocytes.

Nuclear hormone receptor coregulator GRIP1 suppresses, whereas SRC1A and p/CIP coactivate, by domain-specific binding of MyoD.

p160 coregulators were initially identified as nuclear hormone receptor coactivators. In this study, functional data demonstrate that members of the three p160 families can have opposing roles in regulating gene expression by the same transcription factor. Both SRC1A and p/CIP function as coactivators for MyoD-mediated transcription whereas GRIP1 acts negatively as a (co)repressor.

Cytoplasmic nuclear transfer of the actin-capping protein tropomodulin.

Tropomodulin (Tmod) is a cytoskeletal actin-capping protein that interacts with tropomyosin at the pointed end of actin filaments. E-Tmod is an isoform that expresses predominantly in cardiac cells and slow skeletal muscle fibers. We unexpectedly discovered significant levels of Tmod in nuclei and then defined peptide domains in Tmod responsible for nuclear import and export.

Synergy and antagonism between Notch and BMP receptor signaling pathways in endothelial cells.

Notch and bone morphogenetic protein signaling pathways are important for cellular differentiation, and both have been implicated in vascular development. In many cases the two pathways act similarly, but antagonistic effects have also been reported. The underlying mechanisms and whether this is caused by an interplay between Notch and BMP signaling is unknown.

Age-related changes of cardiac gene expression following myocardial ischemia/reperfusion.

Young and old (4 and 25 months of age, respectively) Fisher 344/Brown Norway hybrid female rats were subjected to four 3 min episodes of ischemia separated by 5 min of reperfusion. Corresponding open-chest sham-operated groups received 32 min of no intervention. All rats were allowed to recover, and 24h later hearts were removed and frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Brief episode of ischemia activates protective genetic program in rat heart: a gene chip study.

Objective: Brief episodes of ischemia of 20 min or less have the potential to protect the heart. Such episodes are associated primarily with reversible ischemic injury yet they induce changes in gene expression. The purpose of the study was to determine whether activation of protective genes takes place within 4 h following a brief episode of ischemia that would mimic angina pectoris.

Cardiomyocyte transplantation into the failing heart-new therapeutic approach for heart failure?

Heart failure, frequently the consequence of irreversible myocardial damage with subsequent formation of akinetic scar tissue, is a highly prevalent disease, and in its advanced stages associated with high mortality. The transplantation of exogenous cells with the inherent ability to contract has been put forward as one potential treatment strategy to increase contractility and cardiac performance. Besides skeletal myoblasts or stem cells from various sources, immature cardiomyocytes, such as fetal or neonatal cardiomyocytes, have been transplanted into normal, cryoinjured, infarcted myocardium, as well as into models of global heart failure.

Development of abnormal tissue architecture in transplanted neonatal rat myocytes.

Background: Most myocardial cell transplant studies focus on demonstration of improved function; however, such improvement depends on the development of appropriate tissue structure. Thus, our aim was to assess the architectural changes that occurred after cell transplant into normal and infarcted myocardium.

Methods: Male neonatal cells (1 to 2 days old) were injected into the left ventricular free wall of adult female rats.

Notch signaling in vascular development.

Notch signaling is an extremely conserved and widely used mechanism regulating cell fate in metazoans. Interaction of Notch receptors (Notch) with their ligands (Delta-like or Jagged) leads to cleavage of the Notch intracellular domain (NICD) that migrates into the nucleus. In the nucleus, NICD associates with a transcription factor, RBP-Jk.

HES and HERP families: multiple effectors of the Notch signaling pathway.

Notch signaling dictates cell fate and critically influences cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in metazoans. Multiple factors at each step-ligands, receptors, signal transducers and effectors-play critical roles in executing the pleiotropic effects of Notch signaling. Ligand-binding results in proteolytic cleavage of Notch receptors to release the signal-transducing Notch intracellular domain (NICD).

Rebuilding a damaged heart: long-term survival of transplanted neonatal rat cardiomyocytes after myocardial infarction and effect on cardiac function.

Background: The long-term effects of cardiac cell transplantation on cardiac function are unknown. Therefore, we tested the survival and functional impact of rat neonatal cardiac myocytes up to 6 months after transplantation into infarcted hearts.

Methods And Results: Cardiomyocytes from male neonatal Fischer 344 rats (1 to 2 days, 3 to 5x10(6)) or medium was injected into the infarcts of adult syngeneic female animals 1 week after left coronary artery ligation.

Survival and development of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes transplanted into adult myocardium.

Transplantation of neonatal cardiomyocytes is a novel approach for the treatment of heart failure and myocardial infarction, but quantitative information on long-term cell survival and development is limited. Male donor cardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal Fischer 344 rats (1-2 days), purified, and injected into the left ventricular wall of female syngeneic adult rats. One hour to 12 weeks later, genomic DNA was isolated from recipient hearts.

HERP1 is a cell type-specific primary target of Notch.

Notch signaling is involved in many cell fate determination events in metazoans. Ligand binding results in proteolytic cleavage to release the signal-transducing Notch intracellular domain (NICD). The nuclear protein RBP-J kappa, when complexed with NICD, acts as a transcriptional activator which, in turn, induces a target gene of Notch such as the repressors HES/E(spl) and HERP2.