Chapter 14 Functional and Structural Approaches to the Study of Excitation--Contraction Coupling

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Two calcium channels, the dihydropyridine (DHP) receptor, which is a component of the surface membrane/T tubules, and the ryanodine receptor (RyR) of the SR, have been identified, purified, sequenced, and functionally characterized. This chapter describes approaches that have contributed to the understanding of the roles of DHPRs and RyRs in excitation-contraction (e-c) coupling. A major experimental strategy that has been employed is to analyze e-c coupling in developing muscle cells from mice. The rationale for this approach is that during development the components of e-c coupling are being actively assembled. A longitudinal analysis of e-c coupling during this developmental period can thus be likened to a comparative analysis of different muscle types from different species. This period of active development makes it feasible to use molecular genetic techniques to manipulate the expression of key proteins. These molecular strategies are discussed in this chapter. In addition, methods are presented for the basic physiological measurements of e-c coupling in developing muscle.

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