title: Molecular organization of transverse tubule/sarcoplasmic reticulum junctions during development of excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle.
abstract: The relationship between the molecular composition and organization of the triad junction and the development of excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling was investigated in cultured skeletal muscle. Action potential-induced calcium transients develop concomitantly with the first expression of the dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) and the ryanodine receptor (RyR), which are colocalized in clusters from the time of their earliest appearance. These DHPR/RyR clusters correspond to junctional domains of the transverse tubules (T-tubules) and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), respectively. Thus, at first contact T-tubules and SR form molecularly and structurally specialized membrane domains that support E-C coupling. The earliest T-tubule/SR junctions show structural characteristics of mature triads but are diverse in conformation and typically are formed before the extensive development of myofibrils. Whereas the initial formation of T-tubule/SR junctions is independent of association with myofibrils, the reorganization into proper triads occurs as junctions become associated with the border between the A band and the I band of the sarcomere. This final step in triad formation manifests itself in an increased density and uniformity of junctions in the cytoplasm, which in turn results in increased calcium release and reuptake rates.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurobiology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Flucher
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Daniels
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D012519:Sarcoplasmic Reticulum / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D002118:Calcium