Architecture and function in the muscle sarcomere

Striated muscle sarcomeres in vertebrates comprise ordered arrays of actin and myosin filaments, organized by an elaborate protein scaffold. Recent innovative work in a number of laboratories has greatly improved our knowledge of these structures, their organization and their interactions. Structural details have been reported on myosin filaments, actin filaments, Z-bands, M-bands, titin, and nebulin. Time-resolved X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy are revealing the molecular movements involved in force production and regulation.