Professor Thomas Irving and Research Assistant Professor Weikang Ma, working with a team from the University of Washington, found that motor proteins have to be activated before muscles can contract
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Credit: Colleen Kelley/University of Cincinnati
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati say a regulatory protein found in skeletal muscle fiber may play an important role in the body s fight or flight response when encountering stressful situations.
The protein, fast skeletal myosin binding protein-C (fMyBP-C), plays a foundational role in the proper regulation of contractile structure and function in the body s fast twitch muscles these muscles produce sudden bursts of power to sprint into action, jump or lift heavy objects. Fast skeletal myosin binding protein-C modulates the speed and force of fast skeletal muscle contraction. This response is very critical for the higher animal and human survival. Just imagine, you are walking through a forest and suddenly you see a tiger in front of you, says Sakthivel Sadayappan, PhD, a professor in the UC Division of Cardiovascular Health and Disease. You will immediately act, either to fight or run away from the animal.