Myosin heavy chain 4 (MYH4)

Myosin heavy chain 4 (MYH4) encodes a major protein component of the thick filament in skeletal muscle, especially fast glycolytic (type IIb) fibers, and is responsible for muscle contraction through ATP hydrolysis and actin binding. It is a member of the sarcomeric myosin family with distinctive isoform-specific biochemical and physiological properties[2][3][1]. MYH4 is primarily expressed in adult skeletal muscle and determines fiber-type specific characteristics, such as contractile speed and metabolic profile. Genetic polymorphisms within MYH4 can affect muscle fiber composition and livestock meat quality[1]. In humans, MYH4 is associated with muscle function and implicated in rare diseases like cataract (OMIM) or muscle degeneration but is not established as a classic therapeutic drug target.

Other names

Myosin-4MYH4MyHC-2bMyHC-IIbMYH2BMyHC-2BMyosin heavy chain 2bMyosin heavy chain IIbMyosin, heavy polypeptide 4, skeletal muscleMyosin heavy chain, skeletal muscle, fetalMHC2Bβ-MyHCMinimscMinmusMMMyhsfMYO2B[2][3][4]