Protein Chemistry. Structure, Properties, Research Methods - Shendryk A.N. 2022

Proteins of blood and muscle tissues
Proteins of the contractile system

The molecular foundations of Muscle performance driven by the energy stored in ATP (high-energy bond energy) remain poorly understood to this day. This is one of the most intriguing and unresolved problems in biochemistry. Prototypes of artificial machines capable of converting chemical energy directly into mechanical work have not yet been developed.

The Mechanism of muscle contraction is not merely a biochemical issue. Many breakthroughs here have been achieved through the integration of biochemical, biophysical, and electron-microscopic approaches. In terms of its characteristics, muscle as a power source is unmatched by any human-made machine. In a resting state, muscle consumes virtually no energy. It is capable of developing a colossal specific power of up to 1 kW per 1 kg of mass within a few milliseconds, utilizing roughly the same energy conversion mechanism as a fuel Cell. It boasts an immense lifespan, estimated at approximately 109 repeated contraction-relaxation cycles.

Various Types of Muscles in the body drive all essential physical activities through their contractions: striated muscles enable the movement of limbs, the entire body, and its parts; smooth muscles maintain the contractile tone of Internal Organs and Blood Vessels; and cardiac muscle ensures the relentless operation of the blood-pumping engine. The contractile function in muscles is primarily driven by two key Proteins—Actin and Myosin—which account for about 75% of all structural protein.

Muscle tissue in the body is represented by three types:

> Skeletal Muscle;

> smooth muscle;

> cardiac muscle.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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