Anaspec has announced the release of a provider of nonmuscle myosin class II heavy chain (NMHC) antibodies.
Nonmuscle myosin class II proteins belong to the superfamily of actin-based motor proteins.
They form hexamer structures composed of two ~200kDa heavy chains (NMHC II) and two pairs of 20kDa and 17kDa light chains (MLC20 and MLC17).
Nonmuscle myosins are classified according to the heavy chain isoforms; light chains are conserved.
Three different isoforms that share 64-80 per cent amino acid sequence identity have been detected in mammals: NMHC II-A, NMHC II-B and NMHC II-C.
Although NMHC II molecules have now been found in muscle cells as well, the name nonmuscle myosin was already widespread and is in use today.
NMHC II-A is abundant compared with other NMHC isoforms in the human lung, spleen, thymus, uterus and colon.
Thus, single amino-acid mutation in MNMH II-A results in kidney and platelet defects in humans.
In addition, a recent study indicated that replacement of NMHC II-B with NMHC II-A rescues brain defects in mice.
