title: Cooperative behaviour of the elementary sarcomere units and the cross-bridge step size.
abstract: We present a model of muscle contraction based on purely physical grounds and modulated by a parameter, k, related to the visco-elastic hindrances of the contractile apparatus. The model predicts a strong cooperation among sarcomere units and proposes that viscous hindrance is a fundamental component of the economy of the contraction. The concept of cross-bridge step size is also discussed and it is concluded that the step size is of various and probably undeterminable length.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biochimica e Biologia Molecolare, Università di Ferrara, Via Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy. gre@unife.it
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grazi
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Bona
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D006868:Hydrolysis; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012518:Sarcomeres / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate