Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Heat Exchanges of a Muscle Model

Nature volume 171, page 213 (1953)Cite this article

Abstract

TENDONS immersed in a solution of mercury – potassium iodide contract; if held at constant length they exert tension, there being a reversible relation between tension and concentration of the reagent1. This system has been proposed as a model of the molecular mechanism of muscular contraction2, and may be taken as typical of such models3. The reagent appears to act as a ‘plasticizer’, weakening attractions between protein molecules, and leaving them free to curl up under the influence of thermal agitation.

Access through your institution
Buy or subscribe

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Access through your institution

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Pryor, M. G. M., Proc. Roy. Soc., B, 137, 71 (1950).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Pryor, M. G. M., “Progress in Biophysics”, 1 (edit. Randall and Butler, London: Butterworth, 1950).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Pryor, M. G. M., “Deformation and Flow in Biological Systems” (edit. Frey Wyssling. Amsterdam: North Holland Pub. Co., 1952).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Wiegand, W. B., Trans. Inst. Rubber Indust., 1, 141 (1925).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wöhlisch, E., and du Mesnil de Rochement, R., Z. Biol., 85, 406 (1927).

    Google Scholar 

  6. Weber, H. H., Z. Elektrochem., 55, 511 (1951).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Mommaerts, W. F. H. M., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 4, 50 (1950).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge,

    M. G. M. PRYOR

Authors
  1. M. G. M. PRYOR
    View author publications

    Search author on:PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

PRYOR, M. Heat Exchanges of a Muscle Model. Nature 171, 213 (1953). https://doi.org/10.1038/171213a0

Download citation

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/171213a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing