Molecular determinants of myosin motor properties

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Myosin molecules are biomachines that produce mechanical force along the cytoskeletal actin filaments. Different myosin molecules differ considerably in their motor properties. It is thought that these differences in motor properties represent adaptations to their individually different cellular functions. We want to exploit these differences to figure out how the size of the myosin working stroke is determined and how the light chains that are associated with myosins regulate the motor properties. These studies should help to elucidate the basic chemo-mechanical mechanisms of myosin motor function and aid in the elucidation of their cellular functions.