Journal
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Volume 88, Issue 3, Pages 1902-1910Publisher
CELL PRESS
DOI: 10.1529/biophysj.104.050047
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- Medical Research Council [G0100150] Funding Source: researchfish
- Medical Research Council [G0100150] Funding Source: Medline
- MRC [G0100150] Funding Source: UKRI
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Calculation of the size of the power stroke of the myosin motor in contracting muscle requires knowledge of the compliance of the myofilaments. Current estimates of actin compliance vary significantly introducing uncertainty in the mechanical parameters of the motor. Using x-ray diffraction on small bundles of permeabilized fibers from rabbit muscle we show that strong binding of myosin heads changes directly the actin helix. The spacing of the 2.73-nm meridional x-ray reflection increased by 0.22% when relaxed fibers were put into low-tension rigor (<10 kN/m(2)) demonstrating that strongly bound myosin heads elongate the actin. laments even in the absence of external tension. The pitch of the 5.9-nm actin layer line increased by similar to 0.62% and that of the 5.1-nm layer line decreased by similar to 0.26%, suggesting that the elongation is accompanied by a decrease in its helical angle (similar to 166 degrees) by similar to 0.8 degrees. This effect explains the difference between actin compliance revealed from mechanical experiments with single fibers and from x-ray diffraction on whole muscles. Our measurement of actin compliance obtained by applying tension to fibers in rigor is consistent with the results of mechanical measurements.
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