title: Nonmuscle myosins IIA and IIB are present in adult motor nerve terminals.
abstract: Throughout life, neuromuscular junctions undergo dynamic changes, remodelling occurring through extension and withdrawal of motor nerve terminals in conjunction with changes in the distribution of acetylcholine receptors at the muscle endplate. However, relatively little is known about the fundamental processes by which nerve terminals are remodelled. These dynamic processes are likely to be driven by molecular motors. Previously, we have implicated myosins IIA and IIB as opposing motors influencing neuronal growth cone dynamics. Using confocal microscopy of neuromuscular junction preparations colabelled for myosin II isoforms and nerve terminal or muscle endplate markers, we demonstrate that both myosin IIA and myosin IIB are localized in nerve terminals. We propose roles for these motor proteins in junctional stabilization and destabilization.
authors: Royal Veterinary College, University of London, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU, UK.
authors: Laura J
authors: LJ
authors: Vega-Riveroll
authors: Steven R
authors: SR
authors: Wylie
authors: Paul T
authors: PT
authors: Loughna
authors: Simon H
authors: SH
authors: Parson
authors: Peter D
authors: PD
authors: Chantler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D009045:Motor Endplate / Q000378:metabolism; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000378:metabolism*; D024507:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA / Q000378:metabolism*; D024501:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB / Q000378:metabolism*; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000378:metabolism; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D016900:Neurofilament Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; D024507:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIA; D024501:Nonmuscle Myosin Type IIB