CGC Bibliography Paper 5581

The UCS family of myosin chaperones.

Hutagalung AH, Landsverk ML, Price MG, Epstein HF

Medline:
12356904
Citation:
Journal of Cell Science 115: 3983-3990 2002
Type:
REVIEW
Genes:
nmy-2 unc-45
Abstract:
The canonical UCS (UNC-45/Crol/She4p) protein, Caenorhabditis elegans UNC-45, was one of the earliest molecules to be shown genetically to be necessary for sarcomere assembly. Genetic analyses of homologues in several fungal species indicate that the conserved UCS domain functionally interacts with conventional type II and unconventional type V myosins. In C. elegans and other invertebrate species, UNC-45 and its orthologues interact with both sarcomeric and non-sarcomeric myosins whereas, in vertebrates, there are two UNC-45 isoforms: a general cell (GC) and a striated muscle (SM) isoform. Although the mechanism of action of UCS proteins is unknown, recent biochemical studies suggest that they may act as molecular chaperones that facilitate the folding and/or maturation of myosin.