Structure of myosin filaments from relaxed Lethocerus flight muscle by cryo-EM at 6 A resolution.

ABSTRACT: We describe a cryo-electron microscopy three-dimensional image reconstruction of relaxed myosin II-containing thick filaments from the flight muscle of the giant water bug Lethocerus indicus. The relaxed thick filament structure is a key element of muscle physiology because it facilitates the reextension process following contraction. Conversely, the myosin heads must disrupt their relaxed arrangement to drive contraction. Previous models predicted that Lethocerus myosin was unique in having an intermolecular head-head interaction, as opposed to the intramolecular head-head interaction observed in all other species. In contrast to the predicted model, we find an intramolecular head-head interaction, which is similar to that of other thick filaments but oriented in a distinctl

SUBMITTER: Hu Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5045269 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature