Suppression of contractile force in muscle fibers by antibody to myosin subfragment 2

Abstract Polyclonal antibody directed against the subfragment-2 region of myosin was purified by affinity chromatography. Skinned muscle fibers that had been preincubated with antibody were able to sustain only 7% of the active isometric force generated by control fibers. The effect of antibody on force production could not be accounted for by inhibition of ATP turnover.