Dynamics of myosin filaments in single smooth muscle cells

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Smooth muscle (SM) was described for the first time in the early 1900s, but contrary to striated muscle, the structure and mechanics of SM contractile filaments is still poorly understood. The unique functional properties of SM are incompatible with a fixed array of myosin filaments. Little is known on the assembly of myosin isoforms SM1 and SM2 in vivo. Models have proposed that myosin filaments are labile and can reorganize to generate maximal tension in vivo, but this have never been directly shown. The few studies that did not use stationary images reported changes in the birefringence and X-ray diffraction patterns in SM during contraction. These techniques are, however, not specific for myofilaments. Therefore, it seems that the best way to examine the dynamics of myofilaments is to directly observe them in real-time.