Myosins have roles in many biological processes that go beyond muscle contraction and vesicle transport, including furrowing during cytokinesis, signal transduction and RNA polymerase I–dependent transcription. Studying these various complex processes will require the use of isoform-specific small molecules that alter motor activity. The marine natural product pentabromopseudilin is now shown to act as an allosteric effector of myosin function and potent inhibitor of vertebrate myosin-5a–dependent motor activity.
- Roman Fedorov
- Markus Böhl
- Dietmar J Manstein
