| First Author | Ajima R | Year | 2008 |
| Journal | Genes Cells | Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 10 | Pages | 987-99 |
| PubMed ID | 18761673 | Mgi Jnum | J:142442 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:3821523 | Doi | 10.1111/j.1365-2443.2008.01226.x |
| Citation | Ajima R, et al. (2008) Deficiency of Myo18B in mice results in embryonic lethality with cardiac myofibrillar aberrations. Genes Cells 13(10):987-99 |
| abstractText | Myo18B is an unconventional myosin family protein expressed predominantly in muscle cells. Although conventional myosins are known to be localized on the A-bands and function as a molecular motor for muscle contraction, Myo18B protein was localized on the Z-lines of myofibrils in striated muscles. Like Myo18A, another 18th class of myosin, the N-terminal unique domain of the protein and not the motor domain and the coiled-coil tail is critical for its localization to F-actin in myocytes. Myo18B expression was induced by myogenic differentiation through the binding of myocyte-specific enhancer factor-2 to its promoter. Deficiency of Myo18B caused an embryonic lethality in mice accompanied by disruption of myofibrillar structures in cardiac myocytes at embryonic day 10.5. Thus, Myo18B is a unique unconventional myosin that is predominantly expressed in myocytes and whose expression is essential for the development and/or maintenance of myofibrillar structure. |
