Skeletal Muscle

骨骼肌Qiang XIA ( 夏强 ), PhD

Department of PhysiologyRoom C518, Block C, Research Building, School of MedicineTel: 88208252Email: xiaqiang@zju.edu.cn

Types of muscle: Skeletal muscle 骨骼肌 Cardiac muscle 心肌 Smooth muscle 平滑肌

Striated muscle横纹肌

Muscle

Muscle (cont.)

• The sliding filament mechanism （肌丝滑行机制） , in which

myosin （肌凝蛋白） filaments bind to and move actin （肌纤蛋白） filaments, is the basis for shortening of stimulated

skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles.

• In all three types of muscle, myosin and actin interactions are

regulated by the availability of calcium ions.

• Changes in the membrane potential of muscles are linked

to internal changes in calcium release (and contraction).

• Neuronal influences on the contraction of muscles is

affected when neural activity causes changes in the

membrane potential of muscles.

• Smooth muscles operate in a wide variety of involuntary

functions such as regulation of blood pressure and

movement of materials in the gut.

Muscle (cont.)

Structure of skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscles are attached to the skeleton by tendons.

Skeletal muscles typically contain many, many muscle fibers.

The sarcomere （肌小节） is composed of:

thick filaments called myosin, anchored in place by titin fibers, and

thin filaments called actin, anchored to Z-lines .

A cross section through a sarcomere shows that:

• each myosin can interact with 6 actin filaments, and

• each actin can interact with 3 myosin filaments.

Sarcomere structures in an electron micrograph.

Filaments

Myosin 肌凝蛋白

Myosin filament (thick filament)粗肌丝

Actin 肌纤蛋白 Tropomyosin 原肌凝蛋白 Troponin 肌钙蛋白

Actin filament (thin filament) 细肌丝

Titin 肌联蛋白

Sarcotubular system(1) Transverse Tubule 横管(2) Longitudinal Tubule 纵管

Sarcoplasmic reticulum 肌浆网

Molecular mechanisms of contraction

Sliding-filament mechanism

Contraction (shortening):

myosin binds to actin, and slides it, pulling the Z-lines closer together, and reducing the width of the I-bands. Note that filament lengths have not changed.

Contraction:

myosin’s cross-bridges （横桥） bind to actin;

the crossbridges then flex to slide actin.

Click here to play theSarcomere Shortening

Flash Animation

The thick filament called myosin is actually a polymer of myosin molecules, each of which has a flexible cross-bridge that binds ATP and actin.

The cross-bridge cyclerequires ATP

The myosin-binding site on actin becomes available, so the energized cross-bridge binds.

1.

The full hydrolysis and departure

of ADP + Pi causes the flexing of the bound cross-bridge.

2.

Binding of a “new” ATPto the cross-bridge uncouples the bridge.

3.

Partial hydrolysis of the bound ATP energizesor “re-cocks” the bridge.

4.

The myosin-binding site on actin becomes available, so the energized cross-bridge binds.

1.

The full hydrolysis and departure

of ADP + Pi causes the flexing of the bound cross-bridge.

2.

Binding of a “new” ATPto the cross-bridge uncouples the bridge.

3.

Partial hydrolysis of the bound ATP energizesor “re-cocks” the bridge.

4.

The cross-bridge cyclerequires ATP

The myosin-binding site on actin becomes available, so the energized cross-bridge binds.

1.

The full hydrolysis and departure

of ADP + Pi causes the flexing of the bound cross-bridge.

2.

Binding of a “new” ATPto the cross-bridge uncouples the bridge.

3.

Partial hydrolysis of the bound ATP energizesor “re-cocks” the bridge.

4.

Click here to play theCross-bridge cycle

Flash Animation

In relaxed skeletal muscle, tropomyosin blocksthe cross-bridge binding site on actin.

Contraction occurs when calcium ions bind to troponin; this complex then pulls tropomyosin away from the cross-bridge binding site.

Roles of troponin, tropomyosin, and calcium in contraction

Interaction of myosin and actin

Transmission of action potential (AP)

along T tubules

Calcium release caused by T tubule AP

Contraction initiated by calcium ions

Excitation-contraction coupling兴奋 - 收缩偶联

The latent period between excitation and developmentof tension in a skeletal muscle includes the time needed to release Ca++ from sarcoplasmic reticulum, move tropomyosin, and cycle the cross-bridges.

The transverse tubules bringaction potentials into the interior of the skeletal muscle fibers, so that the wave of depolarization passes closeto the sarcoplasmic reticulum,stimulating the release of calcium ions.

The extensive meshworkof sarcoplasmic reticulum assures that when it releases calcium ions they can readily diffuseto all of the troponin sites.

Passage of an action potential along the transverse tubule opens nearby voltage-gated calcium channels, the “ryanodine receptor,” located on the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and

calcium ions released into the cytosol bind to troponin. The calcium-troponin complex “pulls” tropomyosin off the myosin-binding site of actin, thus allowing the binding of the cross-bridge, followed by its flexing to slide the actin filament.

Which of these following proteins contains the binding sites for Ca2+ that initiates contraction?

A Myosin B Troponin I C Tropomyosin

D Troponin C E Troponin T

Neuromuscular transmission

Excitation-contraction coupling

Muscle contraction

General process of excitation and contraction in skeletal muscle

A single motor unit （运动单位） consists of a motor neuron and all of the muscle fibers it controls.

The neuromuscular junction （神经肌接头） is the point of synaptic contact between the axon terminal of a motor neuron and the muscle fiber it controls.

Action potentials in themotor neuron cause Acetylcholine （乙酰胆碱） release into the neuromuscular junction.

Muscle contraction follows the delivery of acetylcholine to the muscle fiber.

1. The exocytosis of acetylcholine from the axon terminaloccurs when the acetylcholine vesicles merge into themembrane covering the terminal.

2. On the membrane of the muscle fiber, the receptors for acetylcholine respond to its binding by increasing Na+ entry into the fiber, causing a graded depolarization.

3. The graded depolarization typically exceeds threshold for the nearby voltage-gate Na+ and K+ channels, so an action potential occurs on the muscle fiber.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体

Acetylcholinesterase 乙酰胆碱酯酶

End plate potential (EPP)

终板电位

Miniature end plate potential微终板电位

Small fluctuations (typically 0.5 mV) in the resting potential of postsynaptic cells.

They are the same shape as, but much smaller than, the end plate potentials caused by stimulation of the presynaptic cell. Miniature end plate potentials are considered as evidence for the quantal release of neurotransmitters at chemical synapses, a single miniature end plate potential resulting from the release of the contents of a single synaptic vesicle.

Click here to play theNeuromuscular Junction

Flash Animation

Click here to play theAction Potentials andMuscle Contraction

Flash Animation

A woman comes to your clinic and explains that she is noting gradually worsening fatigue/weakness in her legs when she goes for her walk. She also mentions a droopy right eyelid, and wonders if this is a normal aging process. You examine her and find the following: overall decreased muscle strength, trace reflexes throughout, and weakness of eyelid closure bilaterally. The rest of the exam is unremarkable. What would you administer to treat the likely condition?

A Muscarinic blockers B Nicotinic blockers

C Acetylcholinesterase blockers D Alpha blockers E Beta blockers

Neuromuscular transmission A Is caused by the release of acetylcholine

from the muscle side of the junction B Shows a permeability change to Na+ and K+ at the receptor site during the endplate potential (EPP)

C May be facilitated by curare in myasthenia gravis

D Is blocked by curare because it competes with the Na+ entry during the muscle action potential

E Is solely an electronic function

A miniature end-plate potential is A Not related to changes in ionic

permeability B A reduced action potential in the

motor end-plate C Produced by spontaneous release of acetylcholine

D Responsible for weak muscular contractions

E An afterdischarge at the neuromuscular junction

The action of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction is terminated primarily by

A Enzymatic breakdown by choline acetylase B Enzymatic breakdown by acetylcholinesterase

C Uptake into the muscle D Uptake into the nerve ending E Diffusion into the surrounding

extracellular fluid

The transmission of an action potential over the muscle fiber membrane causes the contraction of the fiber a few milliseconds later. Which of the following terms is used to describe that process?

A Ratchet Theory of Muscle Contraction B Excitation Contraction Coupling

C Membrane Potential D All-or -Nothing Law

Muscle tension 肌张力 – the force exerted on an object by a

contracting muscle

Load 负荷 – the force exerted on the muscle by an object

(usually its weight)

Isometric contraction 等长收缩 – a muscle develops tension

but does not shorten (or lengthen) (constant length)

Isotonic contraction 等张收缩 – the muscle shortens while the

load on the muscle remains constant (constant tension)

Mechanics of single-fiber contraction

The mechanical response of a single muscle fiber to a single action potential is know as a TWITCH

Twitch contraction 单收缩

Tension increases rapidly and dissipates slowly

Shortening occurs slowly, only after taking up elastic tension; the relaxing muscle quickly returns to its resting length.

iso = same tonic = tension metric = length

All three are isotonic contractions.

1. Latent period 潜伏期2. Velocity of shortening3. Duration of the twitch4. Distance shortened

Load-velocity relation 长度 - 速度关系

Click here to play theMechanisms of

Single Fiber ContractionFlash Animation

Answer the following question by referring to the attached chart. Which curve or line represents the total tension of the muscle?

A Curve A B Curve B

C Curve C D Curve D E Curve E

Complete dissipation of elastic tension between subsequent stimuli.

S3 occurred prior tothe complete dissipation of elastic tension from S2.

S3 occurred prior tothe dissipation of ANYelastic tension from S2.

Frequency-tension relation 频率 - 张力关系

T e m p o r a l s u m m a t i o n.

Unfused tetanus 非融合性强直收缩 : partial dissipation of elastic tension between subsequent stimuli.

Fused tetanus 融合性强直收缩 : no time for dissipation of elastic tension between rapidly recurring stimuli.

Frequency-tension relation

Mechanism for greater tetanic tension

Successive action potentials result in a persistent elevation of cytosolic calcium concentration

Long sarcomere: actin and myosin do not overlap much, so little tension can be developed.

Length-tension relationShort sarcomere: actin filaments lack room to slide, so little tension can be developed.

Optimal-length sarcomere: lots of actin-myosin overlap and plenty of room to slide.

Optimal length

Click here to play theLength-Tension Relation

in Skeletal MusclesFlash Animation

Skeletal muscle’s capacity to produce ATP via oxidative phosphorylation is further supplemented by the availability of molecular oxygen bound to intracellular myoglobin.

In skeletal muscle, ATP production via substrate phosphorylation is supplemented by the availability of creatine phosphate 磷酸肌酸 .

In skeletal muscle, repetitive stimulation leads to fatigue 疲劳 , evident as reduced tension.

Rest overcomesfatigue, but fatigue will reoccur soonerif inadequate recoverytime passes.

On the basis of maximal velocities of shortening Fast fibers 快肌纤维 – containing myosin with high ATPase

activity (type II fibers) Slow fibers 慢肌纤维 -- containing myosin with low ATPase

activity (type I fibers) On the basis of major pathway to form ATP

Oxidative fibers 氧化型肌纤维 – containing numerous mitochondria and having a high capacity for oxidative phosphorylation, also containing large amounts of myoglobin (red muscle fibers)

Glycolytic fibers 糖酵解型肌纤维 -- containing few mitochondria but possessing a high concentration of glycolytic enzymes and a large store of glycogen, and containing little myoglobin (white muscle fibers)

Types of skeletal muscle fibers

Slow-oxidative fibers – combine low myosin-ATPase activity with high oxidative capacity

Fast-oxidative fibers -- combine high myosin-ATPase activity with high oxidative capacity and intermediate glycolytic capacity

Fast-glycolytic fibers -- combine high myosin-ATPase activity with high glycolytic capacity

Types of skeletal muscle fibers

Slow-oxidative skeletal muscle responds well to repetitive stimulation without becomingfatigued; muscles of bodyposture are examples.

Fast-oxidative skeletal muscle responds quickly and to repetitive stimulation without becoming fatigued; muscles used in walking are examples.

Fast-glycolytic skeletal muscle is used for quick bursts ofstrong activation, such as muscles used to jump or to run a short sprint.

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Note: Because fast-glycolytic fibers have significant glycolytic capacity, they are sometimes called “fast oxidative-glycolytic [FOG] fibers.

Muscles containing many type IIA fibers are called A Red muscles

B Slow oxidative muscles C White muscles D Fast glycolytic muscles

The store of glycogen in the muscle functions to

A Attenuate blood glucose levels directly B Provide energy for muscle contraction

C Provide a source of ketone bodies D Provide structural integrity to muscle E Inhibit muscle contraction

All three types of muscle fibersare represented in a typicalskeletal muscle,

and, under tetanic stimulation,make the predicted contributions tothe development of muscle tension.

Slow-oxidative

Fast-oxidative

Fast-glycolytic

Whole-muscle contraction

Flexors （屈肌） and extensors （伸肌） work in antagonisticsets to refine movement,

and to allow forcegeneration in two opposite directions.

How can gastrocnemius contraction result in two different movements?

The lever system of muscles and bones:

Here, muscle contraction must generate 70 kg force to hold a 10 kg object that is 30 cm away from the site of muscle attachment.

Muscle contraction that moves the attachment site on bone 1 cmresults in a 7 cm movement of the object 30 cm away from the site;similar gains in movement velocity occur.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy （ Duchenne 型肌营养不良） weakens the hip and trunk muscles, thus altering the lever-system relationships of the muscles and bones that are used to stand up.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a devastating, progressive disease that occurs in boys; it is characterized by the progressive necrosis of skeletal muscle fibers and death at an average age of 16, usually from respiratory failure. It is the second most common genetic disorder in humans, and there is no specific treatment. The course of the disease includes slow muscular development, progressive weakness, and frequent contractures. The disease is usually recognized at ages 2 to 5, and the child is usually confined to a wheelchair by age 12. Laboratory observations show highly elevated serum concentrations of creatine kinase and other soluble sarcoplasmic enzymes. Both fast and slow muscle fibers are affected by fiber necrosis and phagocytosis, balanced by marked regeneration of cells in the early stages of the disease. The fibers resemble fetal muscles, in terms of their isoenzyme patterns, with marked dedifferentiation. Fiber death and replacement by fat and connective tissue gradually predominate. DNA analysis reveals that the disease is caused by the deficiency of a gene on the X chromosome. The product of the gene is a cytoskeletal protein called dystrophin that forms a network adjacent to the sarcolemma. Dystrophin is a very large protein (426 kDa). It is a minor constituent of muscle and links sarcomeres to the sarcolemma via association with a glycoprotein inserted into the membrane.

1. Diseases affecting striated muscle cells are uncommon but are devastating and characteristically lethal. Why? 2. What is the significance of the elevated serum creatine kinase level? 3. Is elevated serum creatine kinase diagnostic for muscular dystrophy? 4. Some muscles are more affected than others. In fact, the muscles of the calves exhibit a characteristic hypertrophy, whereas the muscles of the upper legs are weakened. What factors may influence differential responses in a patient whose skeletal muscle cells lack a functional dystrophin gene? 5. Why is Duchenne muscular dystrophy progressive even though the genetic defect is present from conception? 6. Why don't girls develop Duchenne muscular dystrophy? 7. Exercise is a major component of the clinical management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. What is the rationale? 8. Would the introduction of a functional allele of the dystrophin gene in the affected cells be a potential treatment that could cure the disease?

Thank you!