Myosin

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Myosin

Myosin (/maɪ.ə.sɪn/ MY-ə-sin) is a type of motor protein found in eukaryotic tissues. It is responsible for various types of cell movement and plays a crucial role in muscle contraction.

Etymology

The term "myosin" originates from the Greek word "myos" meaning "muscle" and the suffix "-in" used in protein nomenclature.

Function

Myosin is a motor protein that converts chemical energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) into mechanical energy, thus generating force and movement. It interacts with actin, another protein, in a process known as the sliding filament theory of muscle contraction.

Structure

Myosin is composed of two heavy chains, which form the head and tail domains, and four light chains. The head domain of myosin, also known as the motor domain, binds to actin filaments and hydrolyzes ATP to generate movement. The tail domain is responsible for the assembly of myosin molecules into thick filaments.

Types

There are many types of myosin, classified into 18 classes, from myosin I to myosin XVIII. Each class of myosin has distinct properties and is associated with different cellular functions. For example, myosin II is involved in muscle contraction, while myosin V is involved in transport of organelles and vesicles within cells.

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