Design and characterization of optically controllable filamentous myosins

Nonmuscle myosin II minifilaments play a critical role in several cellular processes that require actin reorganization and force generation, such as cell migration, cell adhesion, cytokinesis, and tissue morphogenesis. Precise control of myosin minifilament activity in space and time is necessary to dissect these processes. Previously, we developed a tool for spatiotemporal control of cargo transport in vitro and in cells by engineering processive tetrameric myosins that change velocity in the presence of blue light.