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Myosin-V motility: these levers were made for walking.


AUTHORS

Tyska MJMatthew J , Mooseker MS Mark S . Trends in cell biology. 2003 9 ; 13(9). 447-51

ABSTRACT

Myosin-Va, a processive actin-based motor thought to be involved in organelle transport, now stands ready to join myosin-II (from muscle) as one of the most highly characterized members of the myosin superfamily. Recent reports from the laboratories of Goldman and colleagues and Selvin and colleagues have provided unprecedented, high-resolution views of the structural changes that take place while this motor moves along its track. Taken together, the new results indicate that myosin-Va tilts its light chain binding domains to ‘walk’ along actin in a hand-over-hand fashion.


Myosin-Va, a processive actin-based motor thought to be involved in organelle transport, now stands ready to join myosin-II (from muscle) as one of the most highly characterized members of the myosin superfamily. Recent reports from the laboratories of Goldman and colleagues and Selvin and colleagues have provided unprecedented, high-resolution views of the structural changes that take place while this motor moves along its track. Taken together, the new results indicate that myosin-Va tilts its light chain binding domains to ‘walk’ along actin in a hand-over-hand fashion.