The MYH9 gene encodes the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin IIA, a widely expressed
cytoplasmic myosin that participates in a variety of processes requiring the generation of …

Cells receive extracellular stimuli in various ways: in the form of soluble molecules (growth
factors, cytokines and hormones) that interact with cell-surface receptors; from adhesive …

The cellular processes underpinning life are orchestrated by proteins and their interactions.
The associated structural and dynamic heterogeneity, despite being key to function, poses a …

Work performed with differentiated contractile smooth muscle tissue over the last two
decades has made clear that covalent modification of myosin by phosphorylation of the 20 …

Extensive studies have shown that cells can sense and modulate the biomechanical
properties of the ECM within their resident microenvironment. Thus, targeting the …

Members of the nonmuscle myosin-2 (NM-2) family of actin-based molecular motors
catalyze the conversion of chemical energy into directed movement and force thereby acting …

Publisher Summary Calmodulin is the major intracellular, and intramembrane, Ca 2+
receptor. Its function is to detect free Ca 2+ and translate changes in Ca 2+ concentrations …

Myosin II, the conventional two-headed myosin that forms bipolar filaments, is directly
involved in regulating cytokinesis, cell motility and cell morphology in nonmuscle cells. To …

The role of Rho GTPase and its downstream targets Rho kinase and myosin light chain
phosphatase in thrombin-induced endothelial cell contraction was investigated. The specific …

Non-muscle myosin 2A (NM2A) is a motor cytoskeletal enzyme with crucial importance from
the early stages of development until adulthood. Due to its capacity to convert chemical …