Fast skeletal myosin binding protein-C regulates fast skeletal muscle contraction

Fast skeletal myosin binding protein-C (fMyBP-C) is one of three MyBP-C paralogs and is predominantly expressed in fast skeletal muscle. Mutations in the gene that encodes fMyBP-C, MYBPC2, is associated with distal arthrogryposis, while fMyBP-C protein is reduced in diseased muscle. However, the functional and structural roles of fMyBP-C in skeletal muscle remain unclear. To address this gap, we generated a homozygous fMyBP-C knockout mouse (C2-/-) and characterized it, both in vivo and in vitro. Ablation of fMyBP-C was benign in terms of muscle weight, fiber type, cross-sectional area, and sarcomere ultrastructure. However, grip strength and plantar-flexor muscle strength were significantly decreased in C2-/- compared to WT. Peak isometric tetanic force (Po) and isotonic speed of contraction were significantly reduced in isolated extensor digitorum longus (EDL) from C2-/- mice. In EDL muscles of C2-/- mice, small-angle X-ray diffraction revealed significant increase in equatorial intensity ratio (I1.1/I1.0) during contraction, indicating a greater degree of myosin head shift towards actin while MLL4 layer-line intensity was decreased at rest, indicating less ordered myosin heads at rest. Interfilament lattice spacing was also significantly increased in C2-/- EDL muscle compared to WT. Consistent with these findings, we observed a significant reduction of steady-state isometric force during Ca2+ activations, myofilament calcium sensitivity, sinusoidal stiffness in skinned EDL muscle fibers from C2-/- mice. Finally, C2-/- muscles displayed disruption of inflammatory and regenerative genes and increased muscle damage upon mechanical overload. Together, our data suggest that fMyBP-C is essential for maximal speed and force of contraction, sarcomere integrity, and calcium sensitivity in fast twitch muscle. Overall design: Comparision of RNA sequence between wild type (WT ) and C2-/- EDL fiber