Study summary · research use only
Mechano-growth factor E-domain modulates cardiac contractile function through 14-3-3 protein interactomes
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this mouse study, researchers examined the E-domain of Mechano-growth factor (MGF), an igf-I gene splice isoform. Phospho-mimetic (S/E18) and phospho-null (S/A18) peptides were given to mice at different doses for 2 weeks, with cardiac function measured by echocardiography and pressure-volume catheter. At the lowest (2.25 mg/kg/day) and highest (9 mg/kg/day) doses, the peptides were associated with depressed systolic and diastolic parameters, while at 4.5 mg/kg/day they produced opposing effects on cardiac function; microarray analysis found 21 genes (FDR p < 0.01) expressed consistent with this pattern, with Nr4a2 identified as a potential target. The S/A18 peptide destabilized 14-3-3γ folding and inhibited its interaction with MYPC3 and phospholamban, while S/E18 did not affect 14-3-3γ stability or its interaction with PLN, but did inhibit interaction with MYPC3.
Abstract
In the heart, alternative splicing of the igf-I gene produces two isoforms: IGF-IEa and IGF-IEc, (Mechano-growth factor, MGF). The sequence divergence between their E-domain regions suggests differential isoform function. To define the biological actions of MGF's E-domain, we performed in silico analysis of the unique C-terminal sequence and identified a phosphorylation consensus site residing within a putative 14-3-3 binding motif. To test the functional significance of Ser 18 phosphorylation, phospho-mimetic (S/E18) and phospho-null (S/A18) peptides were delivered to mice at different doses for 2 weeks. Cardiovascular function was measured using echocardiography and a pressure-volume catheter. At the lowest (2.25 mg/kg/day) and highest (9 mg/kg/day) doses, the peptides produced a depression in systolic and diastolic parameters. However, at 4.5 mg/kg/day the peptides produced opposing effects on cardiac function. Fractional shortening analysis also showed a similar trend, but with no significant change in cardiac geometry. Microarray analysis discovered 21 genes (FDR p < 0.01), that were expressed accordant with the opposing effects on contractile function at 4.5 mg/kg/day, with the nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 2 (Nr4a2) identified as a potential target of peptide regulation. Testing the regulation of the Nr4a family, showed the E-domain peptides modulate Nr4a gene expression following membrane depolarization with KCl in vitro. To determine the potential role of 14-3-3 proteins, we examined 14-3-3 isoform expression and distribution. 14-3-3γ localized to the myofilaments in neonatal cardiac myocytes, the cardiac myocytes and myofilament extracts from the adult heart. Thermal shift analysis of recombinant 14-3-3γ protein showed the S/A18 peptide destabilized 14-3-3γ folding. Also, the S/A18 peptide significantly inhibited 14-3-3γ's ability to interact with myosin binding protein C (MYPC3) and phospholamban (PLN) in heart lysates from dobutamine injected mice. Conversely, the S/E18 peptide showed no effect on 14-3-3γ stability, did not inhibit 14-3-3γ's interaction with PLN but did inhibit the interaction with MYPC3. Replacing the glutamic acid with a phosphate group on Ser 18 (pSer18), significantly increased 14-3-3γ protein stability. We conclude that the state of Ser 18 phosphorylation within the 14-3-3 binding motif of MGF's E-domain, modulates protein-protein interactions within the 14-3-3γ interactome, which includes proteins involved in the regulation of contractile function.
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