Myosin-11

Myosin-11 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the MYH11 gene. It is a member of the myosin family, a group of motor proteins that are involved in a variety of cellular functions. Myosin-11 is specifically a smooth muscle myosin, meaning it is primarily found in smooth muscle tissue.

Structure

Myosin-11 is a hexameric protein, composed of two heavy chains and four light chains. The heavy chains have a molecular weight of approximately 200 kDa, while the light chains have a molecular weight of approximately 20 kDa. The heavy chains contain a head domain, a neck domain, and a tail domain. The head domain is responsible for ATPase activity and actin binding, while the neck domain binds the light chains and the tail domain is involved in cargo binding.

Function

Myosin-11 is involved in several important cellular processes, including cell division, organelle transport, and muscle contraction. In smooth muscle cells, myosin-11 interacts with actin filaments to generate force and cause contraction. This is a crucial part of many physiological processes, including vasoconstriction and peristalsis.

Clinical significance

Mutations in the MYH11 gene have been associated with several medical conditions. For example, they have been found in patients with aortic aneurysm and patent ductus arteriosus. Research is ongoing to better understand the role of myosin-11 in these and other diseases.

See also

• Myosin
• Smooth muscle tissue
• Aortic aneurysm
• Patent ductus arteriosus