Summary
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1.
Force and ATPase activity were measured in skinned, fast muscle fibres isolated from the myotomes of Antarctic, temperate and tropical fish.
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2.
Maximum isometric tension was inversely related to normal environmental temperature, when measured at −5 to 0°C. When compared within the normal temperature range of each species, tensions were rather similar.
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3.
In contrast, the muscle fibres of all three species had similar cross bridge cycle times over the entire temperature range studied. This results in a more economical maintenance of force at normal body temperatures in muscle fibres from the Antarctic fish.
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Altringham, J.D., Johnston, I.A. Evolutionary adaptation to temperature in fish muscle cross bridge mechanisms: tension and ATP turnover. J Comp Physiol B 156, 819–821 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694256
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694256