Myosin Ii: Sarcomeric Myosins, The Motors Of Contraction In Cardiac And Skeletal Muscles

Different classes of molecular motors, “rowers” and “porters,” have been proposed to describe the chemomechanical transduction of energy. Rowers work in large assemblies and spend a large percentage of time detached from their lattice substrate. Porters behave in the opposite way. We calculated the number of myosin II cross bridges (CB) and the probabilities of attached and detached states in a minimal four-state model in slow (soleus) and fast (diaphragm) mouse skeletal muscles. In both muscles, we found that the probability of CB being detached was ∼98% and the number of working CB was higher than 109/mm2. We concluded that muscular myosin II motors were classified in the category of rowers. Moreover, attachment time was higher than time stroke and time for ADP release. The duration of the transition from detached to attached states represented the rate-limiting step of the overall attached time. Thus diaphragm and soleus myosins belong to subtype 1 rowers.

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Distribution of c-protein isoforms in sarcomeres of developing chick skeletal muscle

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010010319x ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 226-227

Author(s):

D. A. Fischman ◽

J. E. Dennis ◽

T. Obinata ◽

H. Takano-Ohmuro

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscles ◽

Thick Filament ◽

Protein Isoforms ◽

Actin Binding ◽

Striated Muscles ◽

C Protein ◽

Sarcomeric Protein ◽

Thick Filaments ◽

Cross Bridges ◽

Bridge Bearing

C-protein is a 150 kDa protein found within the A bands of all vertebrate cross-striated muscles. By immunoelectron microscopy, it has been demonstrated that C-protein is distributed along a series of 7-9 transverse stripes in the medial, cross-bridge bearing zone of each A band. This zone is now termed the C-zone of the sarcomere. Interest in this protein has been sparked by its striking distribution in the sarcomere: the transverse repeat between C-protein stripes is 43 nm, almost exactly 3 times the 14.3 nm axial repeat of myosin cross-bridges along the thick filaments. The precise packing of C-protein in the thick filament is still unknown. It is the only sarcomeric protein which binds to both myosin and actin, and the actin-binding is Ca-sensitive. In cardiac and slow, but not fast, skeletal muscles C-protein is phosphorylated. Amino acid composition suggests a protein of little or no αhelical content. Variant forms (isoforms) of C-protein have been identified in cardiac, slow and embryonic muscles.

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The effect of ionophore A23178 on the α-actinin crosslinks in the z-band of frog skeletal muscle: An EM study

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100142396 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 44 ◽

pp. 154-155

Author(s):

F.T. Llados ◽

V. Krlho ◽

G.D. Pappas

Keyword(s):

Muscle Damage ◽

Transmitter Release ◽

Skeletal Muscles ◽

Calcium Uptake ◽

Muscle Membrane ◽

Frog Skeletal Muscle ◽

Ach Release ◽

Sustained Action ◽

Calcium Deposits ◽

Intense Stimulation

It Is known that Ca++ enters the muscle fiber at the junctional area during the action of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh). Pappas and Rose demonstrated that following Intense stimulation, calcium deposits are found In the postsynaptic muscle membrane, Indicating the existence of calcium uptake In the postsynaptic area following ACh release. In addition to this calcium uptake, when mammal Ian skeletal muscles are exposed to a sustained action of the neurotransmitter, muscle damage develops. These same effects, l.e., Increased transmitter release, calcium uptake and finally muscle damage, can be obtained by Incubating the muscle with lonophore A23178.

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