Factors affecting the equatorial X-ray diffraction pattern from contracting frog skeletal muscle.

Abstract

Changes in the equatorial X-ray diffraction pattern from tetanized frog sartorius muscles (Rana catesbiana ) were studied by use of time-resolved data collection technique (time resolution, 0.5 sec) to give information about the dynamic properties of the cross-bridges. No significant changes in the intensity ratio of two equatorial reflections (I1,0/I1,1) were observed when isometrically contracting muscles were slowly stretched by 5-6%, in spite of marked force changes. The intensity ratio also showed no significant changes when the load on isometrically contracting muscles was suddenly increased from Po to 1.2-1.5 Po to produce isotonic muscle lengthening. Closer examination of the data indicated that a small decrease in the value of I1,1 was caused by both slow stretch and isotonic lengthening. Because of the scatter of experimental plots in I1,0, the effect of small change in I1,1 on the intensity ratio fell within the range of accuracy of measurement. It is suggested that no marked changes in myosin head orientation or in the number of the cross-bridges in the vicinity of the thin filaments take place in response to slow stretches or isotonic lengthening, and that the decreased regularity of the filament lattice may produce the change in I1,1.