Expression of the inclusion body myopathy 3 mutation in Drosophila depresses myosin function and stability and recapitulates muscle inclusions and weakness

Mol Biol Cell. 2012 Jun;23(11):2057-65. doi: 10.1091/mbc.E12-02-0120. Epub 2012 Apr 11.

Abstract

Hereditary myosin myopathies are characterized by variable clinical features. Inclusion body myopathy 3 (IBM-3) is an autosomal dominant disease associated with a missense mutation (E706K) in the myosin heavy chain IIa gene. Adult patients experience progressive muscle weakness. Biopsies reveal dystrophic changes, rimmed vacuoles with cytoplasmic inclusions, and focal disorganization of myofilaments. We constructed a transgene encoding E706K myosin and expressed it in Drosophila (E701K) indirect flight and jump muscles to establish a novel homozygous organism with homogeneous populations of fast IBM-3 myosin and muscle fibers. Flight and jump abilities were severely reduced in homozygotes. ATPase and actin sliding velocity of the mutant myosin were depressed >80% compared with wild-type myosin. Light scattering experiments and electron microscopy revealed that mutant myosin heads bear a dramatic propensity to collapse and aggregate. Thus E706K (E701K) myosin appears far more labile than wild-type myosin. Furthermore, mutant fly fibers exhibit ultrastructural hallmarks seen in patients, including cytoplasmic inclusions containing aberrant proteinaceous structures and disorganized muscle filaments. Our Drosophila model reveals the unambiguous consequences of the IBM-3 lesion on fast muscle myosin and fibers. The abnormalities observed in myosin function and muscle ultrastructure likely contribute to muscle weakness observed in our flies and patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / metabolism
  • Conserved Sequence
  • Contracture / congenital*
  • Contracture / genetics
  • Contracture / physiopathology
  • Drosophila melanogaster / genetics*
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Inclusion Bodies / metabolism*
  • Inclusion Bodies / pathology
  • Kinetics
  • Locomotion
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Muscle Weakness / genetics
  • Muscle Weakness / pathology*
  • Muscle Weakness / physiopathology
  • Mutant Proteins / chemistry
  • Mutant Proteins / genetics
  • Mutant Proteins / metabolism
  • Mutation / genetics*
  • Myofibrils / metabolism
  • Myofibrils / ultrastructure
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / chemistry
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / genetics*
  • Myosin Heavy Chains / metabolism*
  • Myositis, Inclusion Body / congenital*
  • Myositis, Inclusion Body / genetics
  • Myositis, Inclusion Body / physiopathology
  • Ophthalmoplegia / genetics*
  • Ophthalmoplegia / physiopathology
  • Protein Stability
  • Protein Structure, Quaternary
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Temperature

Substances

  • Actins
  • Mutant Proteins
  • Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase
  • Myosin Heavy Chains

Supplementary concepts

  • Inclusion body myopathy, autosomal dominant