Kinetic theory of the mechanism of muscular contraction

Karrer, Enoch

doi:10.1007/bf01611936

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…The possibility that a long-chain molecule assumes a statistically determined configuration and the exchange of energy with surrounding atoms are now fully accepted and are referred to as the kinetic theory of rubber elasticity. The correspondence between rubber-like solids and muscles was first observed by Karrer (1933). Karrer regarded both materials as having a network of macromolecules bridged by permanent and/or temporary cross-links or junctions, entanglements and van der Waals forces.…”

Section: Similarities Between Soft Biological Tissue and Rubbermentioning

confidence: 99%

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A constitutive model for muscle properties in a soft-bodied arthropod

Dorfmann

Trimmer

Woods

2006

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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In this paper, we examine the mechanical properties of muscles in a soft-bodied arthropod under both passive and stimulated conditions. In particular, we examine the ventral interior lateral muscle of the tobacco hornworm caterpillar, Manduca sexta, and show that its response is qualitatively similar to the behaviour of particle-reinforced rubber. Both materials are capable of large nonlinear elastic deformations, show a hysteretic behaviour and display stress softening during the first few cycles of repeated loading. The Manduca muscle can therefore be considered as different elastic materials during loading and unloading and is best described using the theory of pseudo-elasticity. We summarize the basic equations for transversely isotropic pseudo-elastic materials, first for general deformations and then for the appropriate uniaxial specialization. The constitutive relation proposed is in good agreement with the experimental data for both the passive and the stimulated conditions.

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Section: Similarities Between Soft Biological Tissue and Rubbermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The correspondence between rubber-like solids and muscles was first observed by Karrer (1933). Karrer regarded both materials as having a network of macromolecules bridged by permanent and/or temporary cross-links or junctions, entanglements and van der Waals forces.…”

Section: Similarities Between Soft Biological Tissue and Rubbermentioning

confidence: 99%

A constitutive model for muscle properties in a soft-bodied arthropod

Dorfmann

Trimmer

Woods

2006

J. R. Soc. Interface.

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“…This equation has been widely used to determine experimentally the contributions of internal energy and entropy to an elastic force from its temperature dependence, the slope giving the entropy, and the intercept (at absolute zero) the internal energy. It has thus long been known that the passive elasticity of muscle is largely entropic in origin (Karrer, 1933). Current opinion is that titin makes a major contribution to this macroscopic property.…”

Section: Entropic Nature Of Muscle Elasticitymentioning

confidence: 99%

The folding and stability of titin immunoglobulin-like modules, with implications for the mechanism of elasticity

Politou¹,

Thomas²,

Pastore³

1995

Biophysical Journal

118

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Titin (first known as connectin) is a vast modular protein found in vertebrate striated muscle. It is thought to assist myofibrillogenesis and to provide a passive elastic restoring force that helps to keep the thick filaments properly centered in the sarcomere. We show that representative titin modules do indeed fold independently, and report their stabilities (i.e., delta G of unfolding and melting temperature) as measured by circular dichroism, fluorescence, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopies. We find that there is a region-dependent variation in stability, although we find no evidence to support a proposed elastic mechanism based on a molten-globular-like equilibrium folding intermediate, nor do our calculations support any mechanism based on the configurational entropy of the molecule itself; instead we suggest a model based on hydrophobic hinge regions that would not be strongly dependent on the precise folding pattern of the chain.

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“…(3) and his colleagues, and by Karrer (4). Vigorous motion is typical of all molecules in the liquid state.…”

Section: Kinetic Theory Of Rubber Elasticitymentioning

confidence: 99%