Location, Characterization and Function of Ryanodine Receptors in Skeletal Muscle

Ryanodine receptors are calcium channels located on the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Muscle contraction results when calcium is released into the cytosol through the ryanodine receptors. In order to study the ryanodine receptors the lab must have skeletal muscle preparations that contain a high density of functional ryanodine receptors. My project focused on determining the presence, activity, and number of ryanodine receptors in different cellular fractions of homogenized rabbit skeletal muscle tissue. [3H]-ryanodine binding assays were used to detect the ryanodine receptors in different cellular fractions. It was determined that the 9,200-rpm pellet contained the greatest amount (pmol /mg) of ryanodine receptor protein. As a result of conflicting data, further experimentation must be done to confirm these results. Due to limited time, this project is a work in progress that would require subsequent [3H]-ryanodine binding assays to support or refute the current data