Xuefei Ma

TL;DR: Non-muscle myosin II is an actin-binding protein that has actin cross-linking and contractile properties and is regulated by the phosphorylation of its light and heavy chains.

TL;DR: It is found that the distribution of NMHC II-C mRNA and protein is widespread in human and mouse organs but is quantitatively and qualitatively distinct from NMHCII-A and II-B, and the mRNA level in human fetal tissues is substantially lower than in adult tissues.

TL;DR: An in vitro 3D EC model system in which migrating ECs display branched pseudopodia morphodynamics similar to those in living zebrafish is developed and it is found that ECM stiffness and ROCK-mediated myosin II activity inhibit EC pseudobodial branch initiation.

TL;DR: This review discusses the structure of the MYH9 gene and its protein, as well as the regulation and physiologic functions of non-muscle myosin IIA with particular reference to embryonic development, and focuses on current knowledge about the role of MyH9 variants in human disease.

TL;DR: The results provide a model for how NMII force generation is effected along the junctional perimeter of each cell and communicated across neighboring cells in the epithelial organization and provide a well-defined target to investigate the multiple roles of NMII in junctional homeostasis as well as in development and disease.