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New mechanism controlling proper organization of muscle contractile units identified

Date:
November 7, 2014
Source:
University of Helsinki
Summary:
Muscle-specific protein cofilin-2 controls the length of actin filaments in muscle cells. Researchers have now revealed a new mechanism that is essential for the correct organization of related sarcomeres.
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Sliding of myosin and actin filaments past each other provides the force for muscle contraction. In contrast to most non-muscle cells, the actin filaments in muscle sarcomeres are of precise length and relatively stable. Defects in the organization of these actin filament arrays result in various heart and muscle disorders, such as myopathies.

The research group of professor Pekka Lappalainen at Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, has now revealed a new mechanism that is essential for the correct organization of sarcomeres.

"We discovered that a muscle-specific protein cofilin-2 'trims' the ends of sarcomeric actin filaments to control their precise length. To this end, cofilin-2 is specific in that it can also disassemble ATP-actin segments, which are expected to be present in the ends of sarcomeric actin filaments," Pekka Lappalainen explains.

These findings also explain why mutations in cofilin-2 gene result in nemaline myopathy.


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Materials provided by University of Helsinki. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Cite This Page:

University of Helsinki. "New mechanism controlling proper organization of muscle contractile units identified." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 7 November 2014. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141107101753.htm>.
University of Helsinki. (2014, November 7). New mechanism controlling proper organization of muscle contractile units identified. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141107101753.htm
University of Helsinki. "New mechanism controlling proper organization of muscle contractile units identified." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/11/141107101753.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

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