Erythrocyte troponin inhibitor-like protein: isolation and characterization

A protein was isolated from a human erythrocyte lysate with an apparent molecular weight of 23,000--24,000 daltons. This protein was purified by batch DEAE cellulose followed by column DEAE cellulose chromatography and a gradient of NaCl. On sodium dodecyl sulfate acrylamide electrophoresis, the erythrocyte protein comigrated with muscle troponin inhibitor. An isoelectric precipitation (pH 9.25) was used for the separation of muscle troponin inhibitor from a complex with another troponin component. Both the erythrocyte protein and the muscle troponin inhibitor partially inhibited muscle myosin Ca2+ and K+-EDTA ATPase activity. Furthermore, they inhibited actin-activated Mg2+-ATPase of muscle myosin. The inhibitory effects were absent in the presence of muscle troponin calcium-binding component. Muscle troponin inhibitor and the erythrocyte troponin inhibitor-like protein bound to muscle myosin when myosin was precipitated twice at low ionic strength. The presence of a troponin inhibitor-like protein in erythrocytes suggests that it may be a component in the regulation of contractile activity.