Ising model of cardiac thin filament activation with nearest-neighbor cooperative interactions

Biophys J. 2003 Feb;84(2 Pt 1):897-909. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(03)74907-8.

Abstract

We have developed a model of cardiac thin filament activation using an Ising model approach from equilibrium statistical physics. This model explicitly represents nearest-neighbor interactions between 26 troponin/tropomyosin units along a one-dimensional array that represents the cardiac thin filament. With transition rates chosen to match experimental data, the results show that the resulting force-pCa (F-pCa) relations are similar to Hill functions with asymmetries, as seen in experimental data. Specifically, Hill plots showing (log(F/(1-F)) vs. log [Ca]) reveal a steeper slope below the half activation point (Ca(50)) compared with above. Parameter variation studies show interplay of parameters that affect the apparent cooperativity and asymmetry in the F-pCa relations. The model also predicts that Ca binding is uncooperative for low [Ca], becomes steeper near Ca(50), and becomes uncooperative again at higher [Ca]. The steepness near Ca(50) mirrors the steep F-pCa as a result of thermodynamic considerations. The model also predicts that the correlation between troponin/tropomyosin units along the one-dimensional array quickly decays at high and low [Ca], but near Ca(50), high correlation occurs across the whole array. This work provides a simple model that can account for the steepness and shape of F-pCa relations that other models fail to reproduce.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Actin Cytoskeleton / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Calcium / physiology*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Models, Biological*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / physiology
  • Myocardial Contraction / physiology*
  • Myocardium / metabolism
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / physiology
  • Myofibrils / physiology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Tropomyosin / physiology
  • Troponin / physiology

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Tropomyosin
  • Troponin
  • Calcium