Physical Chemistry of Muscle Protein ``Actin''
Abstract
Taking into consideration a possible role of actin filaments in muscle contraction, the authors give a review on physical chemical properties of actin in vitro, mainly describing the new results obtained in their laboratory. The dynamic aspect of the monomer-polymer equilibrium of actin coupled with the dephosphorylation of adenosine triphosphate is investigated and the cooperative nature of the polymerization is revealed. A new model of fibrous actin polymer is presented and the possibility of the intermolecular conformational change of actin polymers is analysed. Some experimental results seem to prove such structure change. Discussions are made concerning the mechanism of movement of actin filaments induced by the interaction with myosin.
- Publication:
-
Progress of Theoretical Physics Supplement
- Pub Date:
- 1961
- DOI:
- 10.1143/PTPS.17.14
- Bibcode:
- 1961PThPS..17...14O