A point mutation in the heavy chain of cardiac myosin, resulting in replacement of an arginine (Arg) with glutamine (Gln), has been linked to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans (Geisterfer-Lowrance, A. A. T., Kass, S., Tanigawa, G., Vosberg, H.-P., McKenna, W., Seidman, J. G., and Seidman, C. E. (1990) Cell 62, 999-1006). To determine the functional impact of this mutation, baculovirus-driven coexpression of myosin heavy and light chains has been developed. The Arg-403-->Gln mutation resulted in cardiac myosin with normal ATPase activity in the absence of actin. However, in the presence of actin, ATPase activity was greatly reduced (Vmax decreased > 3.5-fold and K(app) increased > 3-fold). In vitro motility was reduced nearly 5-fold by this single amino acid mutation. Thus, Arg-403 likely contributes to an important interaction at the actin interface of myosin. Replacement of Arg-403 with Gln leads to decreased rate(s) of transition within the actin-myosin crossbridge cycle. In humans, this mutation will result in decreased power output per unit area of cardiac muscle, likely providing a stimulus for hypertrophy.