This study sought to explain the apparent role of calcium ions in muscle contraction, by searching for a component of muscle tissue that would have an affinity for Ca ions. Reasoning that such material would probably have a structure that included negative groups such as sulfites, and knowing that such molecules were often "metachromatic" (i.e., would stain to a different color than that of the dye applied to them), Szent-Gyorgyi tested various muscle components--myosin, actomyosin, and other fractions--for their ability to turn toluidine blue (a lab stain) purple. He extracted a metachromatic protein and called it "metin."
Item is a photocopy.
Number of Image Pages:
4 (454,401 Bytes)
Date:
1963-12-15 (December 15, 1963)
Creator:
Szent-Gyorgyi, Albert
Kaminer, B.
Source:
Periodical: Szent-Gyorgyi, Albert, and B. Kaminer. "Metin and Metactomyosin." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 50, 6 (15 December 1963): 1033-1036. Article.
Publisher:
National Academy of Sciences
Rights:
Reprinted with permission from the National Foundation for Cancer Research. For additional copies or more information, please call 1-800-321-CURE or visit our Web site at
