Myosin VI: cellular functions and motor properties

Myosin motor proteins use the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to move cargo along actin tracks. Myosin VI, unlike almost all other myosins, moves toward the minus end of actin filaments and functions in a variety of intracellular processes such as vesicular membrane traffic, cell migration, and mitosis. These diverse roles of myosin VI are mediated by interaction with a number of different binding partners present in multi-protein complexes. Myosin VI can work in vitro as a processive dimeric motor and as a nonprocessive monomeric motor, each with a large working stroke. The possibility that both monomeric and dimeric forms of myosin VI operate in the cell may represent an important regulatory mechanism for controlling the multiple steps in transport pathways where nonprocessive and processive motors are required.