What biochemical process must occur in the myosin head to initiate the "power stroke" in muscle contraction, which is characterized by a large protein conformational change? What conformational change is associated with ATP hydrolysis?
The biochemical processes that must occur in the myosin head to initiate the "power stroke" in muscle contraction, which is characterized by large protein conformational change is ATP hydrolysis.
Explanation- ATP binding with myosin releases the head from the filament. This reduces the affinity of head for acting and allows it to move along the filament. Hydrolysis of ATP causes the head to be displaced along the filament by a distance of about 5nm. However, product of ATP hydrolysis, ADP and Pi remain tightly bound to myosin head.
Release of Pi causes binding of myosin head to a new site on the actin filament. This release triggers the power stroke (the force generating change in the shape during which the head regions its original confirmation). In the course of power stroke, the head loses its bound ADP and returns to the start of a new cycle.
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