Muscle myosins polymerize into thick filaments that drive muscle contraction by interaction with actin thin filaments. Thick filaments are formed by the association of several hundred myosin II molecules in a staggered array. The globular heads of myosin bind actin, forming cross-bridges between the myosin and actin filaments. It appeared that Mg2+ ions induced thickening and lengthening of the filaments, whereas ATP (and ADP) induced thinning and shortening (depolymerization) of the filaments.