New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction

Shreechakradhar U Mungal; Sushil P Dube; Anandkumar Dhole; Uddhav Mane; Anil K Bondade

doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

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Online Published: 18 Jan 2015

Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2015; 5(1): 72-75

doi: 10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction

Shreechakradhar U Mungal, Sushil P Dube, Anandkumar Dhole, Uddhav Mane, Anil K Bondade.

Cited By:4

Abstract
Background: Current understanding of skeletal muscle contraction is based on the sliding filament theory proposed independently by A.F. Huxley and H.E. Huxley (1954). The sliding filament theory very well explained shortening of skeletal muscle during contraction with reference to a single sarcomere with movement of Z discs toward center of that particular sarcomere. However, when we consider shortening of multiple sarcomeres in a myofibril arranged in series, the sliding filament theory fails to justify the movement of Z discs as each Z disc is being pulled in opposite direction by myosin heads of adjacent sarcomeres.

Aims & Objectives: To find out alternate possible mechanism of Z disc movement on either side of A band if movement toward center by both sides is not possible.

Materials and Methods: We have prepared a simulating model of sliding filament theory and observed mechanism of contraction on it.

Results: The sliding filament theory fails to explain the movement of Z discs when all sarcomeres in a myofibril are contracting simultaneously. Therefore, we proposed a new hypothesis that Z discs and actin filaments in the half part of each sarcomere, which is toward origin end of muscle fiber, are not pulled toward center of myosin filament instead myosin filament slide toward origin end, and in the other half of each sarcomere (which is toward insertion end) actin filaments slide over myosin filament toward origin end of the muscle.

Conclusion: This study adds a new insight into the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction and needs further confirmation on electron microscopic studies.

Key words: Sliding Filament Theory; Muscle Contraction; Actin; Myosin; Z Disc

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Pubmed Style

Mungal SU, Dube SP, Dhole A, Mane U, Bondade AK. New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2015; 5(1): 72-75. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

Web Style

Mungal SU, Dube SP, Dhole A, Mane U, Bondade AK. New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction. https://www.njppp.com/?mno=164573 [Access: November 01, 2025]. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Mungal SU, Dube SP, Dhole A, Mane U, Bondade AK. New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. 2015; 5(1): 72-75. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Mungal SU, Dube SP, Dhole A, Mane U, Bondade AK. New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol. (2015), [cited November 01, 2025]; 5(1): 72-75. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

Harvard Style

Mungal, S. U., Dube, . S. P., Dhole, . A., Mane, . U. & Bondade, . A. K. (2015) New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction. Natl J Physiol Pharm Pharmacol, 5 (1), 72-75. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

Turabian Style

Mungal, Shreechakradhar U, Sushil P Dube, Anandkumar Dhole, Uddhav Mane, and Anil K Bondade. 2015. New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 5 (1), 72-75. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

Chicago Style

Mungal, Shreechakradhar U, Sushil P Dube, Anandkumar Dhole, Uddhav Mane, and Anil K Bondade. "New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction." National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 5 (2015), 72-75. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Mungal, S. U., Dube, . S. P., Dhole, . A., Mane, . U. & Bondade, . A. K. (2015) New hypothesis for mechanism of sliding filament theory of skeletal muscle contraction. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 5 (1), 72-75. doi:10.5455/njppp.2015.5.090820141

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