Molecule of the Week: Myosin

Myosin is a kind molecular motor. It exists as a dimer with two myosin monomers twisted around each other. It is an interesting molecule because it takes the energy from ATP hydrolysis in an Ca dependent manner and helps to slide the actin molecule. This amazing molecular mechanism is responsible for muscle contraction. The structure of the molecule in the image shows the ATP binding site and different domains of myosin molecule as well as myosin head which binds to the Actin filament. Watch a video about myosin below.

Binod Pandey 

University of Missouri-St. Luis