# Multifaceted roles of nonmuscle myosin II in cell adhesion and migration

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · 2020 · $314,984

## Abstract

Class II (conventional) myosins are actin-dependent motors that are uniquely able to polymerize into
bipolar filaments, which makes them capable of driving cell contraction. Nonmuscle myosin II (NMII) is
ubiquitously expressed in animal cells, where it executes numerous mechanical tasks including cell adhesion
and migration, as well as overall organization of the contractile cytoskeleton in the cell. In contrast to large and
stable bipolar filaments formed by muscle-specific myosin II paralogs, NMII filaments are small and highly
dynamic. By constantly cycling between polymeric and monomeric states, NMII can accommodate changing
cellular needs and help the cell to choose an appropriate mode of migration. We recently discovered two new
aspects of NMII dynamics: (1) copolymerization of NMII paralogs into hybrid bipolar filaments and (2) functional
significance of activated, but unpolymerized NMII monomers that were previously considered to be only
transient intermediates of NMII activation. Our goal is to determine physiological significance of these new
aspects of NMII dynamics. Specifically, we will test our hypotheses that (1) copolymerization of NMII paralogs
is a key mechanism to establish polarized organization of the contractile system in cells and thus promote
directional cell migration and that (2) activated NMII monomers regulate dynamics of cell-matrix adhesions. A
key element of both models is regulation of NMII at the heavy chain level, which modulates composition of
hybrid bipolar filaments and generates activated NMII monomers. We address the following specific aims: (1)
Roles of NMII copolymerization for contractile system organization and cell migration; (2) Roles of heavy chain-
dependent mechanisms of NMII turnover for cytoskeleton polarization and cell migration; and (3) Roles of
activated NMII monomers in dynamics of cell-matrix adhesions.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9932383
- **Project number:** 5R01GM095977-08
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Tatyana Svitkina
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $314,984
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2013-07-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9932383

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9932383, Multifaceted roles of nonmuscle myosin II in cell adhesion and migration (5R01GM095977-08). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9932383. Licensed CC0.

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