title: Dynamic aspects of microtubule sliding in sperm flagella.
abstract: The force of microtubule sliding in reactivated sea urchin sperm flagella was determined under defined mechanical conditions by attaching two glass microneedles to a demembranated flagellum and measuring the small displacements of the needle caused by the sliding force. Upon reactivation with a solution containing elastase as well as ATP, oscillatory force generation was observed under an isometric condition, followed by a plateau of isometric force. The average isometric force was about 1 pN per dynein arm which did not change with the ATP concentration (4 to 500 microM).
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005407:Flagella / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000494:pharmacology; D012617:Sea Urchins; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase