Unconventional myosins in muscle

Myosins, actin-based molecular motors originally isolated from muscle tissues, are ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotic cells. They are involved in a panoply of cellular functions, including cell migration, intracellular trafficking, adhesion, and cytokinesis. Several unconventional myosins belonging to classes I, V, VI, VII, IX, and XVIII have been detected in myogenic cells and/or adult muscle where they seem to play important roles in muscle functioning and/or differentiation. For example, a point mutation within the myosin VI gene leads to a cardiac dysfunction, and myosin XVIIIB (expressed predominantly in striated muscle) may be involved in muscle gene transcription. This review summarizes data addressing the functioning of these unconventional myosins in muscle and/or myogenic cells.