Biomaterial Database

Electron microscopy of negatively stained scallop myosin molecules. Effect of regulatory light chain removal on head structure. 1989

M Walker, and J Trinick

Muscle Biology Department, AFRC Institute of Food Research--Bristol Laboratory, Langford, U.K.

The heads of myosin molecules from the striated adductor muscle of scallop have been studied by electron microscopy after negative staining. In common with vertebrate skeletal muscle myosin visualized by this method, the scallop myosin heads were pear-shaped and often showed pronounced curvature. Staining suggestive of two or, more frequently, three domains could often be observed. Removal of regulatory light chains (R-LCs) resulted in a reduction in the length of the heads of about 2.6 nm, with no significant change in maximum width. In desensitized preparations a majority of heads displayed anticlockwise curvature, whereas intact heads were usually seen curved clockwise. Analysis of the head curvature in both intact and desensitized molecules was consistent with an ability of each head to rotate about its long axis. Desensitization resulted in an increased incidence of heads showing two domains. It seems likely that the reduction in length upon removal of the R-LC is due to the two small domains located in the neck region of the head collapsing into one.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008974	Mollusca	A phylum of the kingdom Metazoa. Mollusca have soft, unsegmented bodies with an anterior head, a dorsal visceral mass, and a ventral foot. Most are encased in a protective calcareous shell. It includes the classes GASTROPODA; BIVALVIA; CEPHALOPODA; Aplacophora; Scaphopoda; Polyplacophora; and Monoplacophora.	Molluscs,Mollusks,Mollusc,Molluscas,Mollusk
D009132	Muscles	Contractile tissue that produces movement in animals.	Muscle Tissue,Muscle,Muscle Tissues,Tissue, Muscle,Tissues, Muscle
D009218	Myosins	A diverse superfamily of proteins that function as translocating proteins. They share the common characteristics of being able to bind ACTINS and hydrolyze MgATP. Myosins generally consist of heavy chains which are involved in locomotion, and light chains which are involved in regulation. Within the structure of myosin heavy chain are three domains: the head, the neck and the tail. The head region of the heavy chain contains the actin binding domain and MgATPase domain which provides energy for locomotion. The neck region is involved in binding the light-chains. The tail region provides the anchoring point that maintains the position of the heavy chain. The superfamily of myosins is organized into structural classes based upon the type and arrangement of the subunits they contain.	Myosin ATPase,ATPase, Actin-Activated,ATPase, Actomyosin,ATPase, Myosin,Actin-Activated ATPase,Actomyosin ATPase,Actomyosin Adenosinetriphosphatase,Adenosine Triphosphatase, Myosin,Adenosinetriphosphatase, Actomyosin,Adenosinetriphosphatase, Myosin,Myosin,Myosin Adenosinetriphosphatase,ATPase, Actin Activated,Actin Activated ATPase,Myosin Adenosine Triphosphatase
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D015879	Myosin Subfragments	Parts of the myosin molecule resulting from cleavage by proteolytic enzymes (PAPAIN; TRYPSIN; or CHYMOTRYPSIN) at well-localized regions. Study of these isolated fragments helps to delineate the functional roles of different parts of myosin. Two of the most common subfragments are myosin S-1 and myosin S-2. S-1 contains the heads of the heavy chains plus the light chains and S-2 contains part of the double-stranded, alpha-helical, heavy chain tail (myosin rod).	Actomyosin Subfragments,Meromyosin Subfragments,Myosin Rod,Myosin S-1,Myosin S-2,ATPase, Actin-S1,Actin S1 ATPase,Actoheavy Meromyosin,Actomyosin Subfragment 1 ATPase,H-Meromyosin,Heavy Meromyosin,Heavy Meromyosin Subfragment-1,Heavy Meromyosin Subfragment-2,Light Meromyosin,Myosin Subfragment-1,Myosin Subfragment-2,ATPase, Actin S1,Actin-S1 ATPase,H Meromyosin,Heavy Meromyosin Subfragment 1,Heavy Meromyosin Subfragment 2,Meromyosin Subfragment-1, Heavy,Meromyosin Subfragment-2, Heavy,Meromyosin, Actoheavy,Meromyosin, Heavy,Meromyosin, Light,Myosin S 1,Myosin S 2,Myosin Subfragment 1,Myosin Subfragment 2,Subfragment-1, Heavy Meromyosin,Subfragment-1, Myosin,Subfragment-2, Heavy Meromyosin,Subfragment-2, Myosin,Subfragments, Actomyosin,Subfragments, Meromyosin,Subfragments, Myosin