Abstract
This chapter focuses on the isolation of the junctional face membrane of sarcoplasmic reticulum. The sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of skeletal muscle controls the myoplasmic free calcium concentration and—thereby, mediates muscle contraction and relaxation. The molecular machinery involved in the release of calcium from the SR remains the key unknown link in the chain of events underlying excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. It has long been inferred that the immediate signal for calcium release is transmitted across the triad junction between the transverse tubule and the terminal cisternae of SR, in response to the depolarization of the transverse tubule with release of Ca 2+ from the terminal cisternae of SR. Transverse tubules are narrow invaginations of the plasma membrane of the muscle fiber, which are situated in register with the underlying sarcomeres. The transverse tubules are junctionally associated with the terminal cisternae by way of the junctional face membrane (JFM) containing the junctional feet structures. It is of obvious interest to be able to isolate and study the JFM. A method is presented for the isolation of the JFM of the junctional terminal cisternae (JTC) of sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Published Version
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