About this Research Topic
The basic physiological principles of muscle contraction are well established: when muscle cells are excited, myosin heads in the sarcomere thick filaments bind to actin thin filaments and undergo a force-generating power stroke. Muscle shortening arises from the relative sliding motion of these filaments. The regulation of these processes at the molecular level is paramount for fulfilling physiological function. For decades, biophysical models have played a valuable role in providing a theoretical framework for integrating laboratory measurements and observations into a unified picture, and also for guiding further experimental investigation. Recent years have also seen a growing ambition to exploit models as tools to aid medical diagnosis and guide clinical interventions.
The aim of this collection is to provide an overview of current advances in the development of quantitative biophysical models of muscle, both in terms of basic biophysics and of their potential for practical applications. Building on decades of experimental and theoretical work, new gaps in our understanding of fundamental regulatory mechanisms are emerging (in particular, with regard to the function of the so-called "super-relaxed state" - SRX). The increasing refinement and complexity of biophysical models makes their quantitative accuracy all the more important. This compounds the challenges of experiment interpretation, rigorous model calibration, and integration within the overall physiological system. These challenges are especially relevant in cutting-edge clinical applications aiming at bespoke treatments customized to individual patients.
Authors are invited to submit original research articles or reviews of current research on topics including, but not limited to:
challenges and techniques used for calibrating theoretical models using experimental or clinical data
experimental or theoretical findings highlighting details of muscle contraction mechanisms
computational and statistical methods used for aiding medical diagnosis or identifying treatment options
experimental or statistical analysis techniques designed to highlight biophysical mechanisms in contraction and its regulation
pharmacodynamic evaluations of the impact of drugs targeting molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction
The aim of this collection is to provide an overview of current advances in the development of quantitative biophysical models of muscle, both in terms of basic biophysics and of their potential for practical applications. Building on decades of experimental and theoretical work, new gaps in our understanding of fundamental regulatory mechanisms are emerging (in particular, with regard to the function of the so-called "super-relaxed state" - SRX). The increasing refinement and complexity of biophysical models makes their quantitative accuracy all the more important. This compounds the challenges of experiment interpretation, rigorous model calibration, and integration within the overall physiological system. These challenges are especially relevant in cutting-edge clinical applications aiming at bespoke treatments customized to individual patients.
Authors are invited to submit original research articles or reviews of current research on topics including, but not limited to:
challenges and techniques used for calibrating theoretical models using experimental or clinical data
experimental or theoretical findings highlighting details of muscle contraction mechanisms
computational and statistical methods used for aiding medical diagnosis or identifying treatment options
experimental or statistical analysis techniques designed to highlight biophysical mechanisms in contraction and its regulation
pharmacodynamic evaluations of the impact of drugs targeting molecular mechanisms of muscle contraction
Keywords: Biophysics, Force generation, Muscle contraction
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