Key result
Decreasing myofilament lattice spacing by 1 nm switches net mechanical work from positive to negative.
Nanometer-scale differences in myofilament lattice spacing can fundamentally alter the mechanical work output of muscle from positive to negative in a spatially explicit model.
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Caution against clinical extrapolation from models; leaves open whether lattice spacing modulates work in intact cardiac muscle.
which has a variable Poisson's ratio. Our simulation results indicate that the lattice spacing can change the mechanical function of muscle, and that in some cases a 1 nm difference can switch the net work of the half sarcomere model from positive (motor-like) to negative (brake-like).
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Tune et al. (2024) studied Muscle mechanics. 14 nm lattice spacing vs. 15 nm lattice spacing was evaluated on Net mechanical work (J/kg). In a spatially explicit half sarcomere model, a 1 nm decrease in myofilament lattice spacing from 15 nm to 14 nm switched the net mechanical work from positive (0.72 J/kg) to negative (-0.74 J/kg).
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