Tomographic 3D reconstruction of quick-frozen, Ca2+-activated contracting insect flight muscle

Cell. 1999 Nov 12;99(4):421-31. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(00)81528-7.

Abstract

Motor actions of myosin were directly visualized by electron tomography of insect flight muscle quick-frozen during contraction. In 3D images, active cross-bridges are usually single myosin heads, bound preferentially to actin target zones sited midway between troponins. Active attached bridges (approximately 30% of all heads) depart markedly in axial and azimuthal angles from Rayment's rigor acto-S1 model, one-third requiring motor domain (MD) tilting on actin, and two-thirds keeping rigor contact with actin while the light chain domain (LCD) tilts axially from approximately 105 degrees to approximately 70 degrees. The results suggest the MD tilts and slews on actin from weak to strong binding, followed by swinging of the LCD through an approximately 35 degrees axial angle, giving an approximately 13 nm interaction distance and an approximately 4-6 nm working stroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Actins / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Calcium*
  • Flight, Animal*
  • Freezing
  • Hemiptera / physiology*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / methods
  • Microscopy, Electron / methods
  • Models, Biological
  • Muscle Contraction / physiology*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / physiology*
  • Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / ultrastructure*
  • Myosin Light Chains / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Tomography / methods
  • Troponin / metabolism

Substances

  • Actins
  • Myosin Light Chains
  • Troponin
  • Calcium