#myosins

-- motor protein type

-- play a role in muscle contraction

-- participate in various other motility processes in eukaryotes

-- ATP-dependent

-- responsible for actin-based motility

-- a large superfamily of genes

-- protein products share properties      -- actin binding      -- ATP hydrolysis      -- force transduction

-- most myosin molecules are made of a head, neck, and tail domain

New Clues as to Why Mutations in the MYH9 Gene Cause Broad Spectrum of Disorders in Humans

Myosins are motor proteins that convert chemical energy into mechanical work, generating force and movement. Myosin II generates forces that are essential to drive cell movements and cell shape changes that generate tissue structure. While researchers know that mutations in the genes that encode nonmuscle myosin II lead to diseases, including severe congenital defects as well as blood platelet…