Molecular dynamics provides new insights into the mechanism of calcium signal transduction and interdomain interactions in cardiac troponin

Cardiac muscle contraction involves a plethora of molecular actors. In cardiomyocytes, the sensor molecule troponin responds by a conformational change to a signal, calcium binding, which triggers the next steps leading to muscle contraction. This work explores the structural details of calcium binding, structural rearrangements and key interactions within this molecular sensor system. Understanding the regulation of cardiac muscle contraction at a molecular level is crucial for the development of therapeutics for heart conditions. Despite the availability of atomic structures of the protein components of cardiac muscle thin filaments, detailed insights into their dynamics and response to calcium are yet to be fully depicted. In this study, we used molecular dynamics simulations of the core domains of the cardiac muscle protein troponin to characterize the equilibrium dynamics of its calcium‐bound and calcium‐free forms, with a focus on elements of cardiac muscle contraction activation and deactivation, that is, calcium binding to the cardiac troponin Ca2+‐binding subunit (TnC) and the release of the switch region of the troponin inhibitory subunit (TnI) from TnC. The process of calcium binding to the TnC binding site is described as a three‐step process commencing with calcium capture by the binding site residues, followed by cooperative residue interplay bringing the calcium ion to the binding site, and finally, calcium–water exchange. Furthermore, we uncovered a set of TnC–TnI interdomain interactions that are critical for TnC N‐lobe hydrophobic pocket dynamics. Absence of these interactions allows the closure of the TnC N‐lobe hydrophobic pocket while the TnI switch region remains expelled, whereas if the interactions are maintained, the hydrophobic pocket remains open. Modification of these interactions may fine‐tune the ability of the TnC N‐lobe hydrophobic pocket to close or remain open, modulate cardiac contractility and present potential therapy‐relevant targets.