Striated Muscles: From Molecules to Cells -- Contractile Performance of Striated Muscle -- Energy Economy in the Actomyosin Interaction: Lessons from Simple Models -- A Strain-Dependency of Myosin Off-Rate Must Be Sensitive to Frequency to Predict the B-Process of Sinusoidal Analysis -- Electron Microscopic Visualization of the Cross-Bridge Movement Coupled with ATP Hydrolysis in Muscle Thick Filaments in Aqueous Solution, Reminiscences and Future Prospects -- Role of Titin in Skeletal Muscle Function and Disease -- Contractile Characteristics of Sarcomeres Arranged in Series or Mechanically Isolated from Myofibrils -- The Force–Length Relationship of Mechanically Isolated Sarcomeres -- Extraction and Replacement of the Tropomyosin–Troponin Complex in Isolated Myofibrils -- Stretch and Shortening of Skeletal Muscles Activated Along the Ascending Limb of the Force–Length Relation -- Cross-Bridge Properties in Single Intact Frog Fibers Studied by Fast Stretches -- Crossbridge and Non-crossbridge Contributions to Force in Shortening and Lengthening Muscle -- Short-Range Mechanical Properties of Skeletal and Cardiac Muscles -- Crossbridge Mechanism(s) Examined by Temperature Perturbation Studies on Muscle -- Efficiency of Cross-Bridges and Mitochondria in Mouse Cardiac Muscle -- Mechanisms of Skeletal Muscle Weakness -- Stretch-Induced Membrane Damage in Muscle: Comparison of Wild-Type and mdx Mice -- Cellular and Whole Muscle Studies of Activity Dependent Potentiation.

Muscle contraction has been the focus of scientific investigation for more than two centuries, and major discoveries have changed the field over the years. This book centers mostly on mechanical studies, dealing with force production and regulation; it gathers studies performed by scientists who have used diverse muscle techniques, and who have shaped the field of muscle contraction throughout the past years. Starting with theoretical approaches to understand myosin molecule function and energetics, this book covers experimental work performed with single molecules, and discusses results from studies investigating basic mechanisms of contraction, using (mostly in order of appearance) isolated sarcomeres, myofibrils, and fibers are presented. The last chapters summarize studies investigating the effects of acute and chronic adaptations, including weakness and muscle disease. Muscle Biophysics represents an excellent source of information for readers intending to understand the mechanics of muscle contraction, and is a fascinating collection of chapters that will hopefully stimulate young investigators to pursue research in this exciting field of research.