Structure of the human nonmuscle myosin 2A motor domain: Insights into isoform-specific mechanochemistry.

ABSTRACT: Nonmuscle myosin 2A (NM2A) is the predominant myosin isoform in nonmuscle cells. Together with its paralogues NM2B and NM2C, NM2A enables tension and force generation, driving essential cellular processes such as membrane protrusion and retraction, directed migration, adhesion, and cytokinesis. The NM2 isoforms display paralogue-specific mechanochemical characteristics that support their specific cellular functions. Here, we determined the structure of the human NM2A motor domain, addressing a critical gap in understanding myosin family diversification. Based on our experimentally resolved 2.1 Å structure of the NM2A motor domain in its nucleotide-free state, we demonstrate, through integrative modeling of NM2-actin complexes and molecular dynamics simulations, how sequence differences bet

SUBMITTER: Heiringhoff RS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12546999 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature