Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video
Multiple Choice
Which of the following correctly describes the initial step in the activation of smooth muscle contraction?
A
Myosin heads bind to actin filaments without the need for calcium.
B
ATP is hydrolyzed by actin to initiate contraction.
C
Troponin binds to calcium, exposing myosin-binding sites on actin.
D
Calcium ions enter the cytosol from the extracellular fluid and sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand the role of calcium ions in smooth muscle contraction. Calcium ions are essential for initiating the contraction process by interacting with specific proteins within the muscle cell.
Recognize that smooth muscle contraction does not involve troponin, unlike skeletal muscle. Instead, calcium ions bind to calmodulin, a regulatory protein, to activate the contraction process.
Learn that calcium ions enter the cytosol from two primary sources: the extracellular fluid and the sarcoplasmic reticulum. This influx of calcium is the initial step in the activation of smooth muscle contraction.
Understand that once calcium binds to calmodulin, the calcium-calmodulin complex activates myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), which phosphorylates the myosin heads, enabling them to bind to actin filaments.
Review the importance of ATP in the contraction process. ATP provides the energy required for the myosin heads to perform the power stroke and for subsequent relaxation of the muscle.