The molecular composition of the sarcomeric M-band correlates with muscle fiber type.
The M-band is the transverse structure that cross-links the thick filaments in the center and provides a perfect alignment of the A-band in the activated sarcomere. The molecular composition of the M-bands in adult mouse skeletal muscle is fiber-type dependent. All M-bands in fast fibers contain M-protein while M-bands in slow fibers contain a significant proportion of the EH-myomesin isoform, previously detected only in embryonic heart muscle. This fiber-type specificity develops during the first postnatal weeks. However, the ratio between the amounts of myosin and of myomesin, taken as sum of both isoforms, remains nearly constant in all studied muscles. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrates that some of the soleus fibers show a diffuse appearance of the M-band, resembling the situation in the embryonic heart. A model is proposed to explain the functional consequence of differential M-band composition for the physiological and morphological properties of sarcomeres in different muscle types.
Agarkova
Irina
I
Institute of Cell Biology, ETH-Zurich Hoenggerberg, Zurich, Switzerland.
Schoenauer
Roman
R
Ehler
Elisabeth
E
Carlsson
Lena
L
Carlsson
Eva
E
Thornell
Lars-Eric
LE
Perriard
Jean-Claude
JC
D000818:Animals; D064211:Connectin; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D018657:Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D009124:Muscle Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
D064211:Connectin; D009124:Muscle Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms