Summary
Myofilaments of striated muscles can be recognized in the electron microscope to be in structural continuity with the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. The very site of insertion of these myofilaments at the membrane surface frequently appears characterized by a dense basal knob of 85–135 Å. It is hypothesized that this attachment of myofilaments to the nuclear membrane plays a role in mechanically transmitting the contraction of the fiber to the nucleus, thus bringing about the harmonica-like “folded” appearance of the nucleus which is known for the contracted states of striated, smooth and cardiac muscles.
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The work was supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
The author is indebted to Miss Sigrid Krien and Miss Marianne Winter for careful technical assistance as well as to Drs. Heinz Falk and U. Scheer for valuable discussions.
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Franke, W.W. Attachment of muscle filaments to the outer membrane of the nuclear envelope. Z. Zellforsch. 111, 143–148 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342106
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00342106