RESEARCH: MYOSINS
FOLDING PROJECT #18307 PROFILE

This project studies different types of myosin proteins found in the human body. Myosins are important for muscle movement and transporting things inside cells. The project focuses on how fast and strong each type of myosin is. Understanding these differences could help us learn more about diseases caused by faulty myosin, like heart problems.

This project simulates several myosins found in the human body.

Myosins are the proteins responsible for most of the force generated by the body, from the contraction of muscles to the movement of materials around the cell.

Although superficially similar, myosins actually differ substantially in their properties and distribution in the body.

This project is studying those differences, especially the differences in speed and power.

We are interested in how this might help us understand diseases that result from defects in myosin, including Usher syndrome and, especially, hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies.

Myosin was featured as the PDB Molecule of the Month in June 2001.

myosin

Proteins responsible for force generation in the body.

Myosins are a class of proteins essential for various cellular functions, including muscle contraction and intracellular transport. They convert chemical energy into mechanical work, enabling movement at the cellular and organismal levels. Defects in myosin can lead to several diseases, such as Usher syndrome and cardiomyopathies.

Usher syndrome

A group of genetic disorders characterized by hearing loss and vision impairment.

Usher syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that affects both hearing and sight. It is caused by mutations in specific genes responsible for the development and function of the inner ear and retina. Symptoms typically include progressive hearing loss from birth or early childhood, as well as retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease leading to vision loss.

hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

A heart condition characterized by thickening of the heart muscle.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a genetic disorder that causes the heart muscle to become abnormally thick. This thickening can make it harder for the heart to pump blood effectively, leading to symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain, and dizziness. HCM is often diagnosed through an echocardiogram, which uses sound waves to create images of the heart.

dilated cardiomyopathy

A heart condition characterized by enlargement and weakening of the heart muscle.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious heart disease that causes the heart chambers to enlarge and weaken. This makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood effectively, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in the legs and ankles. DCM can be caused by various factors, including genetics, infections, and alcohol abuse.