Myosins are molecular motors that use the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to mediate actin-based motility. Defects in myosins result in cardiomyopathies, neurological problems, deafness and blindness. Class I myosins are small, single-headed, non-filamentous proteins that have been implicated in cell motility, establishment of polarity, and actin organization. The long-term objective of this project is to determine the cellular function of one particular class I myosin, Myo1c. Specifically, the first aim is to study the localization of endogenous and expressed Myo1c in fixed and live tissue culture cells, and determine where it concentrates during dynamic cytoskeletal events. In the second aim, the effect of knocking down the cellular concentration of Myo1c on cytoskeletal properties and cell movement will be monitored. As a complementary approach, the effect of increasing the cellular concentration of Myo1c or mutated Myo1c on the same cytoskeletal and motile characteristics will be investigated in the third aim. These experiments will test the hypotheses that Myo1c concentrates in cellular regions undergoing rapid rearrangements of the cytoskeleton and mediates dynamic cytoskeletal events at the cell cortex.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
1F32GM072332-01
Application #
6835301
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F05 (20))
Program Officer
Flicker, Paula F
Project Start
2004-09-01
Project End
2007-08-31
Budget Start
2004-09-01
Budget End
2005-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$42,976
Indirect Cost
Name
Boston Biomedical Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
058893371
City
Watertown
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02472
Lieto-Trivedi, Alena; Coluccio, Lynne M (2008) Calcium, nucleotide, and actin affect the interaction of mammalian Myo1c with its light chain calmodulin. Biochemistry 47:10218-26
Lieto-Trivedi, Alena; Dash, Sheffali; Coluccio, Lynne M (2007) Myosin surface loop 4 modulates inhibition of actomyosin 1b ATPase activity by tropomyosin. Biochemistry 46:2779-86