Coordination of the two heads of myosin during muscle contraction

Diane S. Lidke, David D. Thomas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have used luminescence resonance energy transfer between regulatory light chains (RLC) to detect structural changes within the dimeric myosin molecule in contracting muscle fibers. Fully functional scallop muscle fibers were prepared such that each myosin molecule contained a terbium-labeled (luminescent donor) RLC on one head and a rhodamine-labeled (acceptor) RLC on the other. Time-resolved luminescence energy transfer between the two heads increased upon the transition from relaxation (ATP) to contraction (ATP plus Ca) and increased further in rigor (no ATP). Combined with experiments on mutant RLCs labeled specifically at other sites, these results support a model in which the force-generating weak-to-strong transition causes one myosin LC domain to tilt through a 30° angle toward the other, thus acting as a coordinated lever arm.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)14801-14806
Number of pages6
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume99
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 12 2002

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