Studies on conformational changes in F-actin of glycerinated muscle fibers during relaxation by means of polarized ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy.

By means of polarized ultraviolet fluorescence microscopy the conformational changes of F-actin occuring in glycerinated muscle fibers of rabbit and barnacle (Balanus rostratus Hock.) under the influence of adenosine triphosphate in the presence of ethylene glycol bis(beta-amino-ethyl ether)-N,N'-tetraacetic acid were discovered. These changes seem to be located near the surface of the globules thus hampering the penetration of univalent iones and neutral molecules into the F-actin macromolecule. It is suggested that similar changes of F-actin take place in thin myofilaments of living muscle fiber during the contraction-relaxation process.