Molecular origins of Muscle Contraction

Molecular origins of Muscle Contraction In order to describe muscle contraction we are developing a computational platform that incorporates current knowledge of molecular structure, biochemical energetics, and binding kinetics. This platform can be used to generate new mechanistic hypotheses concerning the functions of the contractile proteins and quantitatively evaluate the roles of accessory and regulatory proteins in muscle contraction. The modelintegrates recent advances in understanding of biochemical states of myosin and their transition rates, function of myosin molecular motors in sarcomere lattice, Ca2+ regulation of myosin binding, and actin and myosin filament extensibility. The quantitative modeling of contraction is ultimately essential for understanding of the molecular basis for a wide range of syndromes and diseases.