X -ray studies of the molecular structure of myosin

Abstract

Abstract The X-ray and elastic properties of myosin are found to resemble most closely, not those of natural keratin, but those of keratin that has suffered breakdown among the cross-linkages (including disulphide bridges) of the polypeptide grid. The supercontraction of myosin cannot be explained as due simply to disorientation of long thin units: it must involve a further folding of the polypeptide chain system. The fact that myosin and keratin are similar in both molecular configuration and elastic properties is discussed in the light of recent X-ray and chemical findings, and the X-ray interpretation is given of the denaturation of myosin.