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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Myosin-Specific Adaptations of In vitro Fluorescence Microscopy-Based Motility Assays
Published on: February 4, 2021
The selective role of myosin VI in lymphoid leukemia cell migration
Jbireal M Ali Jbireal1, Carina Strell, Bernd Niggemann
1Institute of Immunology, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany.
Abstract:
Several myosin isotypes are discussed to be involved in the migration of various cells ranging from tumor cells to leukocytes. We investigated the involvement of myosins II and VI in the lymphoid leukemia cells lines Jurkat, NB4, Dohh-2, and Molt-4 by a three-dimensional, collagen-based migration assay. Down-regulation of myosin VI by siRNA significantly reduced the migratory activity of all cells, whereas the pharmacological inhibition of non-muscle myosin II using blebbistatin had only marginal influence. Therefore, in contrast to differentiated leukocytes and cells from solid tumors, myosin VI plays a crucial role in the migration of leukemic cells.
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