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Myosin Class XIV And Other Myosins In Protists

  • Chapter
Myosins

Part of the book series: Proteins and Cell Regulation ((PROR,volume 7))

Abstract

Myosins are actin-based molecular motors that convert chemical energy released by ATP hydrolysis into directed movement along tracks of actin filaments. They are found in eukaryotes and are implicated in a number of important cell functions, such as nuclear and cell division, transport of molecules, vesicles, and organelles, signal transduction, and motility. The myosin superfamily was previously described as containing at least 18 different classes with class XIV reported to be specific to apicomplexan parasites and subdivided into two subclasses. But a recent reassessment of myosin phylogeny and classification incorporating a number of novel sequences uncovered by several genome sequencing initiatives has expanded the known repertoire of myosin heavy chains from apicomplexans and other protists. It established six new myosin classes, three of which are restricted to alveolates (XXII, XXIII, XXIV), and showed that class XIV encompasses myosins of both apicomplexans and ciliates and is subdivided into four subclasses. Moreover, several sequences include protein domains (ATS1-like, WD40) previously unknown to be associated with myosin motors. In this chapter, we discuss the current classification of myosin heavy chains with particular emphasis on the apicomplexan myosins. Most of them have not yet been studied experimentally and we discuss their possible function based on their classification and their protein domains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Medicine, University of Geneva, 1 Rue Michel-Servet, CMU, CH-1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland

    Karine FrÉnal & Dominique Soldati

  2. School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637551

    Bernardo J. Foth

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  1. Karine FrÉnal
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  2. Bernardo J. Foth
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FrÉnal, K., Foth, B.J., Soldati, D. (2008). Myosin Class XIV And Other Myosins In Protists. In: Myosins. Proteins and Cell Regulation, vol 7. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6519-4_15

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