what causes the actin filaments to slide past the myosin filaments?
Troponin is a protein that helps hold tropomyosin in place on the actin filament. A muscle contraction consists of a series of repeated events. First, calcium triggers a change in the shape of troponin and reveals the myosin-binding sites of actin beneath tropomyosin. Then, the myosin heads bind to actin and cause the actin filaments to slide. Finally, ATP breaks the actin-myosin bond and allows another myosin 'oar stroke' to occur. Repetition of these events causes a muscle to contract. Learning Outcomes. After this lesson, you'll be able to: Identify the structure of myosin and actin