Single-motor mechanics and models of the myosin motor

Recent progress in single-molecule detection techniques is remarkable. Thes e techniques have allowed the accurate determination of myosin-head-induced displacements and how mechanical cycles are coupled to ATP hydrolysis, by measuring individual mechanical events and chemical events of actomyosin di rectly at the single-molecule level. Here we review our recent work in whic h we have made detailed measurements of myosin step size and mechanochemica l coupling, and propose a model of the myosin motor.