Which muscle protein forms cross-bridges?

The muscle protein that forms cross-bridges is myosin. Myosin molecules have a head region that binds to actin filaments, enabling muscle contraction through the sliding filament mechanism. When myosin heads attach to actin, they pivot, pulling the actin filaments closer together, which shortens the muscle fiber and generates force. This interaction is crucial for muscle contraction during activities such as movement and posture maintenance.