Super-relaxed Myosins Contribute to Respiratory Muscle Hibernation in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

By integrating data from myofiber force measurements, x-ray diffraction experiments, and biochemical assays with clinical data, researchers found that in myofibers isolated from the diaphragm of ventilated ICU patients, myosin was trapped in an energy-sparing, super-relaxed state, which impaired the binding of myosin to actin during diaphragm contraction.