The sarcomere length of isolated heart myoblasts can be measured over time in th
ID: 3475846 • Letter: T
Question
The sarcomere length of isolated heart myoblasts can be measured over time in the laboratory. The myoblasts are maintained in a buffer during the experiment. In a control experiment, Ca2+ and ATP are added to the buffer and the change in sarcomere length is analyzed. If EDTA, a chelating agent that sequesters Ca2+, was included in the buffer, the length change would be __________ compared with a control experiment without EDTA. Question options:
smaller
the same
There is no way to determine the result given the information provided.
greater
Explanation / Answer
The change in length is very likely to be smaller.
During the differentiation of myoblasts into myocytes and their successive grow, Ca2+ is required for formation of the intercellular cement as well as for forming the supporting scaffolds (matrix) along which the cells grow. In the absence of Ca2+, these processes are likely to be severely affected, resulting in smaller change in sarcomere length.
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