Unconventional myosins

Coudrier, E., Durrbach, A., Louvard, D. (1992). Do unconventional myosins exert functions in dynamics of membrane compartments FEBS Lett. 307, 87-92. 

Titus, M.A., Wessels, D., Spudich, J.A., Soli, D. (1993). The unconventional myosin encoded by the myoA gene plays a role in Dictyostelium motility. Mol. Biol. Cell 4,233-246. 

Kalhammer, G. and Bahler, M. Unconventional myosins. Essays Biochem. 35 33-42,2000. 

Avraham, K. B., Hasson, T., Steel, K. P., Kingsley, D. M. and Russell, L. B. The mouse Snell s waltzer deafness gene encodes an unconventional myosin. Nature Genetics 11 369-375,1995. 

Hasson, T. et al. Unconventional myosins in inner-ear sensory epithelia. /. Cell Biol. 137 1287-1307,1997. 

More than 18 classes of myosin have been identified in different organisms so far. Myosins of class V and class XI (the plant class V) are most akin to kinesin because they are dimeric, plus end (barbed end)-directed, processive motors used for membrane and particle transport along actin filaments. There is also a class of myosins with reversed motility (class VI). It is not yet clear whether these are monomeric or dimeric. Myosin-I, the first class of unconventional myosins to be identified, comprises monomeric motors with a basic tail that interacts by electrostatic interaction with the cargo. 

Mermall V, Post PL, Mooseker MS (1998) Unconventional myosins in cell movement, membrane traffic, and signal transduction. Science 279 527-533. 

MermaU V. and Miller K.G. 1995. The 95F unconventional myosin is required for proper organization of the Drosophila syncytial blastoderm./. Cell Biol. 129 1575-1588. 

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