title: Alpha-actinin is a component of the Z-filament, a structural backbone of skeletal muscle Z-disks.
abstract: The relationship between the ultrastructure and protein components of Z-disks was studied using psoas muscles of rabbit and breast muscles of chicken. Glycerinated fiber bundles of these muscles were treated with a solution containing 0.1 mM Ca2+ to induce a structural weakening of Z-disks non-enzymatically. During the treatment, clear geometrical configurations of Z-filaments could be observed along with removal of amorphous matrix under an electron microscope. Even after a prolonged treatment for 14 d in which all Z-disks were entirely weakened, entangled Z-filaments were left in the original region of the disks. Immunoelectron microscopic observations showed that antibodies against alpha-actinin bound to the entangled Z-filaments, forming dense lines at the position of the original Z-disks. On SDS-PAGE of Z-disk substances, alpha-actinin remained unchanged and Mr 75,000 and 55,000 proteins were removed during the Ca2+-treatment. We therefore conclude that alpha-actinin is a component of Z-filaments, and that the amorphous matrix is composed at least of these Mr 75,000 and 55,000 proteins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hattori
mesh_terms: D000185:Actinin / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009210:Myofibrils / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011817:Rabbits; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate
chemical_list: D000185:Actinin; D012967:Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate; D002118:Calcium