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ATP's Three Roles in Muscle Contraction

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ATP, per Bio 0508, powers contraction three ways: energizing the myosin head, detaching myosin from actin after the power stroke, and pumping calcium back into storage.

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Without ATP to detach myosin, a muscle stays locked in contraction — the mechanism behind rigor mortis.

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ATP relaxes a muscle as much as it contracts one, against picturing ATP as only a "go" signal.