[Myosin VI: the unique motor protein of the actin cytoskeleton].

Myosins are actin-based motor proteins that use energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to generate force and move along actin filaments. Myosin VI is a unique motor protein because it moves towards the "minus" end of actin filament, which is the opposite direction to all of the other myosins studied so far, and therefore is thought to have unique properties and cellular functions. Localization and functional studies indicate that myosin VI plays a role in a variety of different intracellular processes, such as endocytosis and secretion as well as cell division, differentiation, and cell migration. These various functions of myosin VI are mediated by interaction with a range of different binding partners. In this review, we describe the structure, kinetic properties and functions proposed for myosin VI, and present current hypotheses on the mechanisms of functioning of this unique protein in vivo.