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Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Myosin-Specific Adaptations of In vitro Fluorescence Microscopy-Based Motility Assays
Published on: February 4, 2021
Myosin VI rewrites the rules for myosin motors
1Department of Physiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, B700 Richards Building, 3700 Hamilton Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6085, USA. lsweeney@mail.med.upenn.edu
Abstract:
Myosin VI is the only type of myosin motor known to move toward the minus ends of actin filaments. This reversal in the direction of its movement is in part a consequence of the repositioning of its lever arm. In addition, myosin VI has a number of other specialized structural and functional adaptations that optimize performance of its unique cellular roles. Given that other classes of myosins may share some of these features, understanding the design principles of myosin VI will help guide the study of the functions of myosins that adopt similar strategies.
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