Myosin Heavy Chain (Cardiac)

The cardiac myosin heavy chain is a critical protein component of the contractile apparatus in heart muscle cells. It exists primarily as two isoforms in humans: alpha (α) and beta (β), encoded by the MYH6 and MYH7 genes, respectively. The β-myosin heavy chain is predominant in human ventricular myocardium, while α-myosin heavy chain is more abundant in atrial tissue. Cardiac myosin acts as a molecular motor converting chemical energy from ATP hydrolysis into mechanical force for heart contraction. Mutations or altered expression patterns of cardiac myosin heavy chains are implicated in various cardiomyopathies.

Other names

MYH6MYH7Alpha-myosin heavy chainBeta-myosin heavy chainCardiac myosin