Shape of the myosin head in the rigor complex. Three-dimensional image reconstruction of the actin-tropomyosin-heavy meromyosin complex

Abstract

The structure of the actin-tropomyosin-heavy meromyosin rigor complex was studied by image analysis of electron micrographs. The arrowhead of the rigor complex has a whisker-like structure with a dense turning point at the "barb" of the arrowhead. The neck region of the myosin head in the reconstructed three-dimensional image is present in the area corresponding to the dense point. It is concluded that at least one extra-thin area contributes to the neck region, and that the two heads in the heavy meromyosin molecule join a double helical rope beyond the end of the large head (G in this study). (This is different from previous interpretations). It is also concluded that the heavy meromyosin has a short bent part near the head/rod junction in the rigor complex.