IV. The mechanism of contraction - Introductory remarks

Abstract

Our programme this afternoon is in two parts. We first welcome Professor Hamoir and Dr Kendrick-Jones to describe the several ways in which smooth muscle myosin differs from skeletal muscle myosin. It was in this biochemical field that my own work, with Dr Jennifer Williams, lay some twelve years ago. We were impressed at that time by the very low ATPase activity of the uterus actomyosin, and by the fact that on trypsin treatment meromyosins were obtained in some ways similar to those of skeletal muscle. Speakers this afternoon will have far more to tell us of the nature, behaviour and structure of the myosins concerned. We were also interested in the properties and possible function of certain soluble proteins, including tropomyosin, which figure so largely in smooth muscle constitution. This subject also will come up today.