MOLECULAR-GENETIC DISSECTION OF MOUSE UNCONVENTIONAL MYOSIN-VA - TAILREGION MUTATIONS

We used an RT-PCR-based sequencing approach to identify the mutations responsible for 17 viable dilute alleles, a mouse-coat-color locus enc oding unconventional myosin-VA. Ten of the mutations mapped to the Myo VA tail and are reported here. These mutations represent the first ext ensive collection of tail mutations reported for any unconventional ma mmalian myosin. They identify sequences important for tail function an d identify domains potentially involved in cargo binding and/or proper folding of the MyoVA tail. Our results also provide support for the n otion that different myosin tail isoforms produced by alternative spli cing encode important cell-ripe-specific functions.