Electron tomography reveals the structure of the C-zone in striated muscle

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The C-zone in vertebrate striated muscle is the region in each half A-band where myosin binding protein C (MyBPC) forms 7 bands of 43 nm spacing. Mutations in MyBPC are a major cause of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; hence there is great interest in understanding its role in the sarcomere. We have found that the organisation of the C-zone is very similar in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Here we report on the 3D organisation of the C-zone by electron tomography of an exceptionally well-preserved frog skeletal muscle.