Blocking acto-myosin contraction in Xenopus tropicalis embryos resulted in delayed Z-disc formation and defects in thick filament organization.
Does blocking acto-myosin contraction affect Z-disc sarcomere maturation in Xenopus tropicalis embryos?
Contractile activity plays a previously undescribed role in sarcomere maturation and thick filament organization in vivo.
Sarcomere structure underpins structural integrity, signaling, and force transmission in the muscle. In embryos of the frog Xenopus tropicalis, muscle contraction begins even while sarcomerogenesis is ongoing. To determine whether contractile activity plays a role in sarcomere formation in vivo, chemical tools were used to block acto-myosin contraction in embryos of the frog X. tropicalis, and Z-disc assembly was characterized in the paralyzed dicky ticker mutant. Confocal and ultrastructure analysis of paralyzed embryos showed delayed Z-disc formation and defects in thick filament organization. These results suggest a previously undescribed role for contractility in sarcomere maturation in vivo.
Geach et al. (Fri,) conducted a other in Sarcomere maturation. Chemical blockade of acto-myosin contraction vs. Normal contractile activity was evaluated on Z-disc assembly and thick filament organization. Blocking acto-myosin contraction in Xenopus tropicalis embryos resulted in delayed Z-disc formation and defects in thick filament organization.