Mechanochemical Energy Transduction in Muscle Contraction

Muscle action at the macroscale is a classic example of the integration of atomic and nanoscale events to produce macroscale action. Some details linking these scales remain in dispute. The paper by Long and Phoonsiri (CEC, 2006) shows a convincing argument for a four state acto-myosin complex model that is based on ADP release from both a high strain and low strain state, though at greatly different rates. Incorporation of strain dependence in the AMADP.Pi allows one to account for stretch as well.