Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Sarcomere01:08

The Sarcomere

18.1K
A sarcomere is a microscopic segment repeating in a myofibril. The sarcomere fundamentally consists of two main myofilaments: thick filaments called myosin and thin filaments called actin. These filaments interact by sliding past each other in response to stimulus. In addition to myosin and actin, several other proteins, such as tropomyosin, troponin, titin, nebulin, myomesin, α-actinin, and dystrophin, play crucial roles in regulating, structuring, and functioning of the sarcomere.
Each...
18.1K
Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles01:13

Microscopic Anatomy of Skeletal Muscles

22.4K
Skeletal muscle cells, also called muscle fibers, are distinctly elongated, multi-nucleated, slender biological units. They are packed with specialized structures designed to facilitate their primary function, which is contraction.
The muscle sarcolemma is a plasma membrane enclosing each muscle cell that conducts electrical signals called action potentials. The sarcolemma extends into the cell to form T-tubules, ensuring the neural impulses are uniformly distributed across the entire muscle...
22.4K
Structural Protein Function01:56

Structural Protein Function

28.8K
Structural proteins are a category of proteins responsible for functions ranging from cell shape and movement to providing support to major structures such as bones, cartilage, hair, and muscles. This group includes proteins such as collagen, actin, myosin, and keratin.
Collagen, the most abundant protein in mammals, is found throughout the body. In connective tissue, such as skin, ligaments, and tendons, it provides tensile strength and elasticity.  In bones and teeth, it mineralizes to...
28.8K
Overview of Skeletal Muscle01:15

Overview of Skeletal Muscle

12.6K
Skeletal muscles are composed of a bundle of muscle fibers and are attached to bones through tendons. Each skeletal muscle fiber is a single muscle cell. The sarcolemma, the plasma membrane of a skeletal muscle cell, consists of a lipid bilayer and glycocalyx that supports muscle fibers. The sarcolemma extends into the muscle cells to form tubular structures called transverse or T-tubules. Each side of the T-tubules consists of a membrane-bound structure called the sarcoplasmic reticulum,...
12.6K
Overview of Myosin Structure and Function01:15

Overview of Myosin Structure and Function

6.4K
Myosins are a family of molecular motor proteins, first identified in the skeletal muscles, where they are responsible for muscle contraction. Along with their role in muscle contraction, these proteins also play a role in the intracellular transport of molecules and vesicles. There are twenty-four classes of myosins based on their domain sequence and organization. Of the twenty-four, six classes (Myosin I, Myosin II, Myosin V, Myosin VI, Myosin VII, and Myosin X)  have been well...
6.4K
Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction01:16

Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction

26.5K
Actin and myosin are contractile proteins that form the sarcomere found in skeletal muscle tissues for regulating muscle contraction. Actin, a globular contractile protein, interacts with myosin for muscle contraction. The skeletal tissue appears striped or striated under a microscope due to the repeated arrangement of contractile proteins actin and myosin along the length of myofibrils. Dark A bands and light I bands repeat along myofibrils, and the alignment of myofibrils in the cell causes...
26.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Sex differences in the regulation and function of cellular immunity in Drosophila.

PLoS genetics·2026
Same author

A TRPV4-dependent calcium signaling axis regulates lamellipodial actin architecture to promote cell migration.

Current biology : CB·2026
Same author

Automated detection of spontaneous calcium signaling events in prohemocytes of the <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> lymph gland.

microPublication biology·2025
Same author

Defining the role of integrins in melanoblast migration <i>in vivo</i>.

Molecular biology of the cell·2025
Same author

Talin autoinhibition is required for normal hemostasis.

Platelets·2025
Same author

Inside-out integrin activation is essential for early mammalian development.

Molecular biology of the cell·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Flight Muscles for Omics Approaches
08:33

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Flight Muscles for Omics Approaches

Published on: October 17, 2019

12.7K

An ongoing role for structural sarcomeric components in maintaining Drosophila melanogaster muscle function and

Alexander D Perkins1, Guy Tanentzapf1

  • 1Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, University of British Columbia, Life Sciences Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Plos One
|June 11, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Adult muscle function relies on cytoskeletal protein turnover. Ongoing synthesis and turnover of key sarcomeric proteins like Actin and Myosin are essential for maintaining correct sarcomere length and muscle performance.

More Related Videos

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Indirect Flight Muscles for Microscopy Approaches
09:47

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Indirect Flight Muscles for Microscopy Approaches

Published on: November 7, 2025

1.3K
Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue
10:22

Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue

Published on: September 8, 2023

2.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Flight Muscles for Omics Approaches
08:33

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Flight Muscles for Omics Approaches

Published on: October 17, 2019

12.7K
Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Indirect Flight Muscles for Microscopy Approaches
09:47

Dissection of Drosophila melanogaster Indirect Flight Muscles for Microscopy Approaches

Published on: November 7, 2025

1.3K
Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue
10:22

Author Spotlight: Investigating mRNA Spatial Distribution in Drosophila Muscle Tissue

Published on: September 8, 2023

2.2K

Area of Science:

  • Muscle physiology
  • Cellular biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Animal muscles endure significant mechanical stress, yet the mechanisms for maintaining function under persistent strain are not fully understood.
  • The sarcomere, the fundamental unit of muscle, is composed of cytoskeletal proteins, suggesting their role in muscle maintenance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cytoskeletal protein turnover in maintaining adult muscle function.
  • To identify specific cytoskeletal components essential for sarcomere integrity and muscle performance in adult Drosophila melanogaster.

Main Methods:

  • Performed an RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown screen targeting cytoskeletal proteins in adult fruit flies.
  • Analyzed muscle function using behavioral assays.
  • Utilized confocal and electron microscopy to examine sarcomere structure and protein localization.

Main Results:

  • Identified 46 genes crucial for adult muscle maintenance, with 40 previously unknown in this context.
  • Demonstrated that while overall muscle architecture remained intact, sarcomere length was disrupted upon knockdown of specific cytoskeletal genes.
  • Found that continuous synthesis and turnover of structural sarcomeric proteins (Projectin, Myosin, Actin) are vital for maintaining sarcomere and thin filament length.

Conclusions:

  • Provided in vivo evidence for adult muscle protein turnover.
  • Established that reduced expression of specific cytoskeletal proteins leads to functional defects in adult muscles.
  • Highlighted the importance of ongoing synthesis and turnover of key sarcomeric proteins for maintaining muscle structure and function.