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Updated: Jan 3, 2026

Myosin-Specific Adaptations of In vitro Fluorescence Microscopy-Based Motility Assays
Published on: February 4, 2021
Myosin 1b is an actin depolymerase
Julien Pernier1,2,3, Remy Kusters1,2,4, Hugo Bousquet2,3
1Laboratoire Physico-Chimie Curie, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS UMR168, 75005, Paris, France.
Abstract:
The regulation of actin dynamics is essential for various cellular processes. Former evidence suggests a correlation between the function of non-conventional myosin motors and actin dynamics. Here we investigate the contribution of myosin 1b to actin dynamics using sliding motility assays. We observe that sliding on myosin 1b immobilized or bound to a fluid bilayer enhances actin depolymerization at the barbed end, while sliding on myosin II, although 5 times faster, has no effect. This work reveals a non-conventional myosin motor as another type of depolymerase and points to its singular interactions with the actin barbed end.
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