Functional consequences of the deletion mutation ΔGlu160 in human cardiac troponin T

To explore the functional consequences of a deletion mutation of troponin T (ΔGlu160) found in familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the mutant human cardiac troponin T, and wild-type troponins T, I, and C were expressed in Escherichia coli and directly incorporated into isolated porcine cardiac myofibrils using our previously reported troponin exchange technique. The mutant troponin T showed a slightly reduced potency in replacing the endogenous troponin complex in myofibrils and did not affect the inhibitory action of troponin I but potentiated the neutralizing action of troponin C, suggesting that the deletion of a single amino acid, Glu-160, in the strong tropomyosin-binding region affects the tropomyosin binding affinity of the entire troponin T molecule and alters the interaction between troponin I and troponin C within ternary troponin complex in the thin filament. This mutation also increased the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of the myofibrillar ATPase activity, as in the case of other mutations in troponin T with clinical phenotypes of poor prognosis similar to that of ΔGlu160. These results provide strong evidence that the increased Ca²⁺ sensitivity of cardiac myofilament is a typical functional consequence of the troponin T mutation associated with a malignant form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.