title: Structural alterations of thin actin filaments in muscle contraction by synchrotron X-ray fiber diffraction.
abstract: Strong evidence has been accumulated that the conformational changes of the thin actin filaments are occurring and playing an important role in the entire process of muscle contraction. The conformational changes and the mechanical properties of the thin actin filaments we have found by X-ray fiber diffraction on skeletal muscle contraction are explored. Recent studies on the conformational changes of regulatory proteins bound to actin filaments upon activation and in the force generation process are also described. Finally, the roles of structural alterations and dynamics of the actin filaments are discussed in conjunction with the regulation mechanism and the force generation mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biophysical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8531, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsuzo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wakabayashi
authors.forename: Yasunobu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugimoto
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takezawa
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Shiho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Minakata
authors.forename: Kanji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oshima
authors.forename: Tatsuhito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Takakazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D017356:Synchrotrons; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D000199:Actins