# STRUCTURE OF CONTRACTILE FILAMENTS OF MUSCLE

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · 1992 · $197,188

## Abstract

The long term goal of this project is to provide new insights into
the molecular structure of the contractile filaments of muscle
and the structural changes that underlie contraction and its
regulation.  Specific aims are:  (1) to describe the structural
changes that occur in myosin crossbridges during their cycle of
attachment to actin when a muscle contracts; (2) to define the
regulatory structural changes that occur in the contractile
filaments when they are activated; (3) to elucidate further the
crossbridge arrangement and backbone structure of the myosin
filaments of smooth and striated muscles.

These questions will be approached using high resolution electron
microscopy, combined with image analysis, to elucidate the
structures of contractile molecules, filaments and whole muscles
in relaxed and activated states.  Intact smooth and striated
muscle tissue, in the relaxed or contracting state, will be studied
by rapid freezing and cryosectioning methods; isolated filaments
by negative staining or "frozen hydrated" methodology combined
with minimal electron dose methods; and purified muscle proteins
by rotary shadowing.

The results of this project should broaden our understanding of the
structure of healthy muscle and of the molecular processes
underlying contraction and its regulation.  Such knowledge is
essential to an understanding of defects in structure that occur in
diseased states.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3156919
- **Project number:** 5R01AR034711-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MQE2JHHJW9Q8
- **Principal Investigator:** ROGER W CRAIG
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $197,188
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1984-12-01 → 1993-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3156919

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3156919, STRUCTURE OF CONTRACTILE FILAMENTS OF MUSCLE (5R01AR034711-08). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-24 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3156919. Licensed CC0.

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