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

Energy Supply for Muscle Contraction01:25

Energy Supply for Muscle Contraction

2.8K
Skeletal muscle fibers have the unique ability to switch between rest and contraction states, using different sources of ATP for energy. The contraction cycle and Ca2+ transport back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum for relaxation require significant ATP. However, the ATP reserves in muscle fibers are limited and can only sustain contractions for a few seconds. Additional ATP production becomes necessary for prolonged contractions. As a result, muscle fibers generate ATP through various sources,...
2.8K
Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles01:29

Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles

2.9K
The period of muscle contraction primarily influences the duration of stimulation at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the presence of free calcium ions in the sarcoplasm, and the availability of energy or ATP to support contractions.
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open....
2.9K
The Neuromuscular Junction01:19

The Neuromuscular Junction

9.0K
The nervous system consists of complex motor neuron circuits, including upper motor neurons originating from the cerebral cortex and lower motor neurons starting in the spinal cord, coordinating both voluntary and involuntary movements. Among these, somatic motor neurons activate skeletal muscles and are classified into alpha, beta, and gamma types. Alpha neurons are vital for voluntary movement coordination, while gamma neurons adjust muscle spindle sensitivity, and the function of beta...
9.0K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

1.3K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
1.3K
Protein Kinases and Phosphatases02:54

Protein Kinases and Phosphatases

12.9K
Proteins undergo chemical modifications that trigger changes in the charge, structure, and conformation of the proteins. Phosphorylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitrosylation, ubiquitination, lipidation, methylation, and proteolysis are various protein modifications that regulate protein activity. Such modifications are usually enzyme-driven.
Protein kinases
Many proteins in the cell are regulated by phosphorylation, the addition of a phosphate group. A family of enzymes called kinases...
12.9K
Cross-bridge Cycle01:26

Cross-bridge Cycle

116.1K
As muscle contracts, the overlap between the thin and thick filaments increases, decreasing the length of the sarcomere—the contractile unit of the muscle—using energy in the form of ATP. At the molecular level, this is a cyclic, multistep process that involves binding and hydrolysis of ATP, and movement of actin by myosin.
116.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Glia-released serotonin drives nose touch responses in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Cell reports·2026
Same author

An optogenetic assay of Drosophila larval motor neuron performance in vivo.

Journal of neuroscience methods·2025
Same author

Optimal neuromuscular performance requires motor neuron phosphagen kinases.

The Journal of physiology·2025
Same author

An optogenetic assay of <i>Drosophila</i> larval motor neuron performance <i>in vivo</i>.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Bichromatic Exon-Reporters Reveal Voltage-Gated Ca<sup>2+</sup>-Channel Splice-Isoform Diversity across <i>Drosophila</i> Neurons In Vivo.

eNeuro·2025
Same author

Population Genomics of Premature Termination Codons in Cavefish With Substantial Trait Loss.

Molecular biology and evolution·2025
Same journal

A human-specific genetic modifier reconfigures large-scale cortical network dynamics underlying behavioral performance.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> uses a eukaryotic-like uridyltransferase to make UDP-GlcNAc for cell wall synthesis.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

Dynamic redistribution of eIF4F controls cap-dependent translation initiation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

When does additional information improve accuracy of RNA secondary structure prediction?

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

Normative brain-state trajectories reveal deviation from healthy aging in Alzheimer's disease.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same journal

Noradrenergic infraslow rhythm during sleep is the critical link between heart-rate dynamics and memory consolidation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 16, 2025

Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle
09:40

Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle

Published on: January 19, 2017

11.6K

Optimal Neuromuscular Performance Requires Motor Neuron Phosphagen Kinases.

Karlis A Justs, Danielle V Latner Nee Riboul, Carlos D Oliva

    Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
    |April 1, 2025
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Motor neurons use phosphagen systems, like Arginine Kinase 1, to rapidly regenerate ATP for intense activity. This system is vital for sustained neurotransmitter release during high-frequency firing.

    More Related Videos

    Levator Auris Longus Preparation for Examination of Mammalian Neuromuscular Transmission Under Voltage Clamp Conditions
    10:45

    Levator Auris Longus Preparation for Examination of Mammalian Neuromuscular Transmission Under Voltage Clamp Conditions

    Published on: May 5, 2018

    9.3K
    Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
    07:53

    Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

    Published on: September 13, 2015

    21.8K

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle
    09:40

    Phosphorus-31 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: A Tool for Measuring In Vivo Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Capacity in Human Skeletal Muscle

    Published on: January 19, 2017

    11.6K
    Levator Auris Longus Preparation for Examination of Mammalian Neuromuscular Transmission Under Voltage Clamp Conditions
    10:45

    Levator Auris Longus Preparation for Examination of Mammalian Neuromuscular Transmission Under Voltage Clamp Conditions

    Published on: May 5, 2018

    9.3K
    Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
    07:53

    Assessment of Neuromuscular Function Using Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation

    Published on: September 13, 2015

    21.8K

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Cellular bioenergetics
    • Muscle physiology

    Background:

    • Phosphagen systems rapidly regenerate ATP, crucial for high-energy demands in muscle.
    • The role of phosphagen systems in motor neuron energy metabolism remains largely unexplored.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the function of Arginine Kinase 1 (ArgK1) in Drosophila larval motor neuron bioenergetics and neurotransmission.
    • To determine the impact of reduced ArgK1 on presynaptic energy metabolism and motor performance.

    Main Methods:

    • Knockdown of Arginine Kinase 1 (ArgK1) in Drosophila larval motor neurons.
    • Utilized fluorescent metabolic probes to assess presynaptic energy metabolism.
    • Performed electrophysiology and SynaptopHluorin imaging to evaluate neurotransmission.
    • Conducted computational modeling of presynaptic bioenergetics.

    Main Results:

    • ArgK1 knockdown led to deficits in presynaptic energy metabolism, with some glycolytic compensation observed.
    • No deficits in endurance performance were detected in ArgK1 knockdown models.
    • Sustained neurotransmitter release failed at high firing frequencies, indicating a critical role for ArgK1.

    Conclusions:

    • Motor neurons, similar to muscle fibers, depend on phosphagen systems for intense energetic demands.
    • The phosphagen system's primary role in motor neurons is likely ADP removal near ATP hydrolysis sites.
    • ArgK1 is essential for maintaining neurotransmission during high-frequency neuronal activity.