Abstract 223: Troponin I Tyrosine Phosphorylation Modulation of Cardiac Function

Heart failure results in depressed contraction and slowed relaxation, both of which limit heart function and contribute to the progression of heart disease. Currently there is no chronic therapy to accelerate relaxation and reverse the diastolic dysfunction present in heart failure. Myocardial relaxation is regulated by serine/threonine phosphorylation of key regulatory proteins. Tyrosine (Tyr) specific kinases are expressed in the heart but the Tyr phosphorylation of regulatory proteins to modulate heart function has not been demonstrated. To investigate the effects of Tyr kinase phosphorylation on cardiac contraction we employed a novel cell penetrating peptide to deliver a direct Tyr kinase activator into isolated adult myocytes. Results demonstrate Tyr kinases activation increases Tyr phosphorylation of the regulatory protein troponin I (TnI) at Tyr26. We have demonstrated that TnI Tyr26 phosphorylation is beneficial to cardiac health by decreasing calcium sensitivity and accelerating myofilament deac...