A new twist in cardiac muscle: dislocated and helicoid arrangements of myofibrillar z-disks in mammalian ventricular myocytes

作者：Jayasinghe Isuru D; Crossman David J; Soeller Christian; Cannell Mark B^*

来源：Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 2010, 48(5): 964-971.

DOI：10.1016/j.yjmcc.2009.12.012

• Heart
• myofibrils
• Sarcomere
• T-tubules
• Ryanodine receptors
• Structure
• Cell morphology
• Myocytes
• Imaging

Using deconvolved confocal microscopy of fluorescently labeled markers for z-disks, t-tubules and ryanodine receptors, we have examined sarcomere organization in cardiac myocytes from rat, rabbit and human. We show that sarcomeres exhibit dislocations in registration and occasionally more complex helicoidal topology. This organization was present at both slack (similar to 1.8 mu m) and long sarcomere lengths (similar to 2.2 mu m). Misregistrations in z-disks persisted over 15-20 sarcomere lengths and appeared to arise primarily from variations in fiber direction; particularly as myofibrils pass around nuclei. In addition, myofibrils twist along the cell length. T-tubules generally follow the sarcomere z-disks although additional elements bridging adjacent myofibrils and along the length of the myofibril are present to varying degrees in all cells. Ryanodine receptors (the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release channel) are generally located within 250 nm of the local plane containing t-tubules and z-disks, but a small fraction (similar to 2%) is found on longitudinal elements of the t-system between z-disks. The results are discussed with respect to the possible role(s) of such complex z-disk organization and z-disk dislocations in the maintenance of cell structure and sarcomere assembly. In addition, the non-planar organization of z-disks may be important in the propagation of local Ca2+ waves which may have a useful role in helping maintain the uniformity of sarcomere activation in the presence of t-tubule remodeling.

• 出版日期2010-5