Mechanical Characterization of Skeletal Muscle Myofibrils

Overview

Journal Biophys J

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Biophysics

Date 1996 Nov 1

PMID 8913614

Citations 20

Authors

A L Friedman

Y E Goldman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

A new instrument, based on a technique described previously, is presented for studying mechanics of micron-scale preparations of two to three myofibrils or single myofibrils from muscle. Forces in the nanonewton to micronewton range are measurable with 0.5-ms time resolution. Programmed quick (200-microseconds) steps or ramp length changes are applied to contracting myofibrils to test their mechanical properties. Individual striations can be monitored during force production and shortening. The active isometric force, force-velocity relationship, and force transients after rapid length steps were obtained from bundles of two to three myofibrils from rabbit psoas muscle. Contrary to some earlier reports on myofibrillar mechanics, these properties are generally similar to expectations from studies on intact and skinned muscle fibers. Our experiments provide strong evidence that the mechanical properties of a fiber result from a simple summation of the myofibrillar force and shortening of independently contracting sarcomeres.

Citing Articles

Linking myosin heavy chain isoform shift to mechanical properties and fracture modes in skeletal muscle tissue.

Tang J, Liu W, Li X, Peng Y, Zhang Y, Hou S Biomech Model Mechanobiol. 2023; 23(1):103-116.

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Force Measurements From Myofibril to Filament.

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Radial stiffness characteristics of the overlap regions of sarcomeres in isolated skeletal myofibrils in pre-force generating state.

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Upconverting Nanoparticles as Optical Sensors of Nano- to Micro-Newton Forces.

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Velocities of unloaded muscle filaments are not limited by drag forces imposed by myosin cross-bridges.

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