Utilization of troponin C as a model calcium-binding protein for mapping of the calmodulin-binding sites of caldesmon

Troponin C, a structural analogue of calmodulin, was used for mapping the calmodulin-binding sites of caldesmon. The apparent Kd values for the formation of the caldesmon-calcium-binding-protein complex as determined by native gel electrophoresis were 0.5, 1.2 and 3.9 microM for calmodulin, rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C and bovine cardiac troponin C respectively. Troponin C induced a 4-6 nm blue shift of the Trp fluorescence of caldesmon without affecting the amplitude of fluorescence. In the presence of Ca2+, troponin C induced partial displacement of caldesmon from actin tropomyosin complexes. Addition of 5,5'-dithiobis(nitrobenzoic) acid to an equimolar complex of caldesmon and troponin C induced disulphide cross-linking between Cys-98 of rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C and the single Cys residue of duck gizzard caldesmon, located in a position analogous to Cys-580 of the chicken gizzard protein. The cross-linked caldesmon-troponin C complex was ineffective in inhibiting actomyosin ATPase activity. It is concluded that Cys-580 of caldesmon can be located close to both the central helix of calcium-binding proteins and the C-terminal domain of actin. This may be important for the regulation of actomyosin ATPase activity by caldesmon.