Calcium Regulation of Muscle Contraction
- Discussion:
- muscle contraction is regulated by calcium ions, which will change
thin filament into an activated state by binding to troponin;
- release of calcium actives the myosin-ATP complex, which motors the
sliding action between actin and myosin;
- in absence of calcium, troponin & tropomyosin interfere w/ formation of
active complexes;
- in absence of ATP, myosin and actin form rigor complexes whether or not
calcium is present;
- after death, there is a gradual decrease in ATP concentration, so
less ATP is available to disassociate the myosin head in a
rigor complex from the actin molecule;
Original Text by Clifford R. Wheeless, III, MD.
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