Structural and conformational changes in myocardial and erythrocyte actin during cardiac ischemia.

摘要

Structural and conformational changes in myocardial and erythrocyte actin during cardiac ischemia were studied by the method of fluorescence resonance energy transfer with highly selective fluorescent probes. In contrast to 15-min coronary artery occlusion, 120-min ischemia was accompanied by irreversible structural and conformational changes in the small domain of erythrocyte actin. Posttranslational changes during myocardial ischemia concerned the N- and C-terminal regions of actin and went beyond the allowed conformational fluctuations in the actin molecule without breaking the energy barrier. Our results suggest that under conditions of ischemia, actin of the myocardium and erythrocyte cytoskeleton loses its ability to acquire conformation required for force generation by cardiomyocyte myofibrils and maintenance of elasticity and integrity of the erythrocyte membrane.