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Review
. 2023 Mar 1;136(5):jcs260890.
doi: 10.1242/jcs.260890. Epub 2023 Mar 14.

Non-muscle myosin 2 at a glance

Melissa A Quintanilla  1 , John A Hammer  2 , Jordan R Beach  1
Affiliations
Review

Non-muscle myosin 2 at a glance

Melissa A Quintanilla et al. J Cell Sci. .

Abstract

Non-muscle myosin 2 (NM2) motors are the major contractile machines in most cell types. Unsurprisingly, these ubiquitously expressed actin-based motors power a plethora of subcellular, cellular and multicellular processes. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we review the biochemical properties and mechanisms of regulation of this myosin. We highlight the central role of NM2 in multiple fundamental cellular processes, which include cell migration, cytokinesis, epithelial barrier function and tissue morphogenesis. In addition, we highlight recent studies using advanced imaging technologies that have revealed aspects of NM2 assembly hitherto inaccessible. This article will hopefully appeal to both cytoskeletal enthusiasts and investigators from outside the cytoskeleton field who have interests in one of the many basic cellular processes requiring actomyosin force production.

Keywords: Actin; Contractility; Myosin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests The authors declare no competing or financial interests.

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