Striped appearance of voluntary muscle under the microscope
is different when muscles are relaxed and when they are
contracted.
The span of one Z line to the next.
In a relaxed state, 2.5µm in length
Z lines closer together during contraction
Two Types of Protein Filament in Contraction
Actin
Thin filaments are two strands made mostly of actin (F Actin),
coiled around each other (twisted)
Each strand composed of G Actin subunits
Tropomyosin molecules coil
around the F Actin to reinforce it.
A troponin complex is attached to each Tropomyosin molecule.
Each troponin complex consists of
three polypeptides
One binds to actin, one to
Tropomyosin and one to calcium ions
Myosin
Thick filaments are bundles of the protein myosin
Each myosin molecule consists of a tail
and two protruding heads
Each thick filament consists of many
myosin molecules whose heads stick out
from opposite ends of the filament
The Power Stroke (Muscle
Contraction)
1) Myosin head groups attach to
the surrounding actin filaments
forming a cross-bridge.
2) The head group then
bends, causing the thin
filament to be pulled
along and overlap more
with the thick filament
(Power Stroke). ADP
and Pi are released.
3) The cross bridge is then
broken as new ATP attaches
to the myosin head.
4) The head group
moves backwards
as the ATP is
hydrolysed to ADP
and Pi. It can then
form a cross bridge
with the thin
filament further
along and bend
again.