A Mechanochemical Mechanism for Muscle Contraction

A mechanochemical mechanism for muscle contraction.

A mechanism for contraction in skeletal muscle is proposed in which the tension-generating site is located within the core of the thick (myosin) filament, specifically within the trypsin-sensitive hinge region of the myosin rod. The force-developing mechanism is thought to be the transfer of energy from ATP splitting in the globular head of one molecule directly to the hinge region of an adjoin...

Structural mechanism of muscle contraction.

X-ray crystallography shows the myosin cross-bridge to exist in two conformations, the beginning and end of the "power stroke." A long lever-arm undergoes a 60 degrees to 70 degrees rotation between the two states. This rotation is coupled with changes in the active site (OPEN to CLOSED) and phosphate release. Actin binding mediates the transition from CLOSED to OPEN. Kinetics shows that the bi...

Remarks on Muscle Contraction Mechanism

Muscle contraction mechanism is discussed by reforming the model described in an article by Mitsui (Adv. Biophys. 1999, 36, 107-158). A simple thermodynamic relationship is presented, which indicates that there is an inconsistency in the power stroke model or the swinging lever model. To avoid this difficulty, a new model is proposed. It is assumed that a myosin head forms a polaron-like comple...

A mechanochemical 3D continuum model for smooth muscle contraction under finite strains.

This paper presents a modelling framework in which the mechanochemical properties of smooth muscle cells may be studied. The activation of smooth muscles is considered in a three-dimensional continuum model which is key to realistically capture the function of hollow organs such as blood vessels. On the basis of a general thermodynamical framework the mechanical and chemical phases are speciali...

The molecular mechanism of muscle contraction.