Calcium transport and phospholamban in sarcoplasmic reticulum of ischemic myocardium

The present study was designed to examine the relation between the loss of Ca2+ uptake activity and the change of protein phosphorylation in sarcoplasmic reticulum from ischemic myocardium. Ischemic (0.5, 1 and 2 h duration) and non-ischemic tissue samples were taken from the coronary-ligated porcine left ventricle and sarcoplasmic reticulum fractions were isolated. The membranes were tested for Ca2+ uptake and ATPase activities and phosphorylation of phospholamban. The in vitro 32P incorporation into phospholamban in the presence of cAMP plus the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase became markedly reduced depending on the duration of ischemia. The activities of the Ca2+ pump (Ca2+ uptake and ATPase) were also decreased. The 32P incorporation into the myofibrillar component troponin I, which is also a specific substrate for catalytic subunit, was not affected by ischemia. The reduction of the Ca2+ pump activity correlated with the reduction of 32P incorporation into phospholamban. It is postulated that the ischemia induced inactivation of the Ca2+ pump is not only a consequence of specific loss of enzyme activity, but it is also caused by altered characteristics of phospholamban.