Architecture and function in the muscle sarcomere

Abstract

Striated muscle sarcomeres in vertebrates comprise ordered arrays of actin and myosin filaments, organized by an elaborate protein scaffold. Recent innovative work in a number of laboratories has greatly improved our knowledge of these structures, their organization and their interactions. Structural details have been reported on myosin filaments, actin filaments, Z-bands, M-bands, titin, and nebulin. Time-resolved X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy are revealing the molecular movements involved in force production and regulation.