Roles of titin in the structure and elasticity of the sarcomere

J Biomed Biotechnol. 2010:2010:612482. doi: 10.1155/2010/612482. Epub 2010 Jun 21.

Abstract

The giant protein titin is thought to play major roles in the assembly and function of muscle sarcomeres. Structural details, such as widths of Z- and M-lines and periodicities in the thick filaments, correlate with the substructure in the respective regions of the titin molecule. Sarcomere rest length, its operating range of lengths, and passive elastic properties are also directly controlled by the properties of titin. Here we review some recent titin data and discuss its implications for sarcomere architecture and elasticity.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Connectin
  • Elasticity*
  • Humans
  • Muscle Proteins / chemistry
  • Muscle Proteins / metabolism*
  • Muscle Proteins / ultrastructure
  • Myosins / metabolism
  • Pliability
  • Protein Kinases / chemistry
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism*
  • Protein Kinases / ultrastructure
  • Sarcomeres / chemistry*
  • Sarcomeres / physiology*

Substances

  • Connectin
  • Muscle Proteins
  • TTN protein, human
  • Protein Kinases
  • Myosins