Function of muscle motor proteins

Magnesium ions (Mg2+) can influence the muscular system, e.g. muscle cramps or certain heart arrhythmias are abolished by Mg 2+. The detailed mechanism of the Mg 2+ action is not yet known. Likewise the basic role of intracellular free Mg 2+ concentration is hardly elucidated. Investigations on this field could find out unknown principles of cell function which would influence many medical research disciplines. Indeed our recent results on muscle fibres suggest that Mg 2+ influences not only the mechanism of force control but also the contractile machinery itself. To verify this hypothesis and to find out molecular details, direct investigations of the effects of Mg 2+ on motor proteins are required. Therefore, in this project we are planning to visualize the translocation of fluorescence labeled actin filaments propelled by muscle motor proteins. These experiments will be carried out under different physiologically relevant Mg 2+ concentrations. To study the Mg 2+ effects on motor proteins of different muscle fibre types, preparations of cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue from human, rat and mouse will be used. Mouse preparations are especially important because of the possibility to work with genetically manipulated motor proteins.

Magnesium ions (Mg2+) can influence the muscular system, e.g. muscle cramps or certain heart arrhythmias are abolished by Mg 2+. The detailed mechanism of the Mg 2+ action is not yet known. Likewise the basic role of intracellular free Mg 2+ concentration is hardly elucidated. Investigations on this field could find out unknown principles of cell function which would influence many medical research disciplines. Indeed our recent results on muscle fibres suggest that Mg 2+ influences not only the mechanism of force control but also the contractile machinery itself. To verify this hypothesis and to find out molecular details, direct investigations of the effects of Mg 2+ on motor proteins are required. Therefore, in this project we are planning to visualize the translocation of fluorescence labeled actin filaments propelled by muscle motor proteins. These experiments will be carried out under different physiologically relevant Mg 2+ concentrations. To study the Mg 2+ effects on motor proteins of different muscle fibre types, preparations of cardiac and skeletal muscle tissue from human, rat and mouse will be used. Mouse preparations are especially important because of the possibility to work with genetically manipulated motor proteins.