Expression of ventricular-type myosin light chain messenger RNA in spontaneously hypertensive rat atria.

Using cloned DNA probes specific for two isoforms of cardiac myosin light chains (MLCs), nonphosphorylatable MLC1 and phosphorylatable, regulatory MLC2, we have observed that the MLC1 messenger RNA of ventricular type does not appear in detectable amounts in atrial cells of either normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat strain (WKY) or spontaneously hypertensive rat strain (SHR). The messenger RNA of regulatory isoform of ventricular MLC2, on the other hand, is found in threefold excess in atria of SHR relative to that of age-matched WKY. The increased level of MLC2 messenger RNA is present even in 6-week-old SHR atria where there is no established overloading of the heart. Thus, it appears that the increased expression of the regulatory MLC2 gene in SHR atrial cells is a predetermined event, which, most likely, participates in functional adaptation of the myocardium in response to pressure overload and subsequent hypertrophy.