|
Regulatory myosin light chain
(MLC2; commonly MYL9 in smooth-muscle and
nonmuscle-cell studies) regulates actomyosin contraction through
phosphorylation-dependent activation of myosin II. In cancer,
MLC2 phosphorylation ↑ generally increases actomyosin
contractility, stress-fibre formation, cell motility, invasion, and metastatic
potential. Conversely, phosphorylated MLC2 ↓ commonly
indicates inhibition of the RhoA/ROCK or MLCK contractility pathways and is
usually anti-migratory. Total MLC2/MYL9 expression may also be increased in
some cancers, but phosphorylation is the more direct functional endpoint.
MYL9 gene reference;
Cancer review.
|