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Multiple Choice
When a skeletal muscle is at rest, which protein is bound to the actin filaments?
A
Actinase
B
Myosin
C
Tropomyosin
D
Troponin
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the structure of a skeletal muscle fiber. Skeletal muscle fibers contain myofibrils, which are composed of repeating units called sarcomeres. Sarcomeres are the functional units of muscle contraction and consist of actin (thin filaments) and myosin (thick filaments).
Step 2: Learn about the proteins associated with actin filaments. Actin filaments are regulated by two key proteins: tropomyosin and troponin. Tropomyosin is a long, rope-like protein that wraps around the actin filament, while troponin is a complex of three subunits that interacts with tropomyosin and actin.
Step 3: Understand the role of tropomyosin in a resting muscle. When a skeletal muscle is at rest, tropomyosin covers the binding sites on actin filaments, preventing myosin from attaching to actin and initiating contraction.
Step 4: Clarify the role of troponin. Troponin is responsible for regulating the position of tropomyosin. When calcium ions bind to troponin during muscle activation, it causes a conformational change that moves tropomyosin away from the actin binding sites, allowing myosin to bind and initiate contraction.
Step 5: Conclude that in a resting skeletal muscle, tropomyosin is the protein bound to actin filaments, blocking the myosin-binding sites and maintaining the muscle in a relaxed state.