Anne Houdusse

Plasmodium falciparum Myosin B is a slow motor optimized for force generation

This study determines the structure of Plasmodium falciparum MyoB, shows it is a slow motor optimized for force generation during invasion, and identifies its light chain as shared with MyoA.

Myosin-X sorts actin filaments into parallel bundles and tunes barbed-end dynamics

This study shows myosin-X can bundle actin filaments and regulate barbed-end dynamics, suggesting it can initiate filopodia without passive crosslinkers.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations Y115H and E497D disrupt the folded-back state of human beta-cardiac myosin allosterically

This study investigates how HCM mutations Y115H and E497D disrupt the folded-back state of human beta-cardiac myosin, leading to hypercontractility by destabilizing the OFF-state.

Probing protein-protein interactions with drag flow: A case study of F-actin and tropomyosin

The paper introduces a drag flow method to study protein-protein interactions, showing that low forces detach tropomyosin clusters from actin filaments, with detachment rates depending on isoform and force magnitude.

Development of Clinically Viable Non-Muscle Myosin II Small Molecule Inhibitors with Broad Therapeutic Potential

This paper develops a selective non-muscle myosin II inhibitor, MT-228, with high brain penetration and efficacy in preclinical models, offering therapeutic potential for diseases like stimulant use disorder.

Ca2+ Regulation of Myosin II and Myosin VI during Rupture of the Shigella-Containing Vacuole

The paper shows that Ca2+ influx regulates actin dynamics and myosin II/VI activity to facilitate Shigella vacuole rupture.

Modulation of Filopodial Myosin Function

This study investigates the role of myosin-F-actin interactions in filopodia formation by analyzing the impact of a mutation in DdMyo7 and Myo10.

Omecamtiv mecarbil and Mavacamten target the same myosin pocket despite antagonistic effects in heart contraction

This study shows Omecamtiv mecarbil and Mavacamten target the same myosin pocket but have antagonistic effects on heart contraction through structural and simulation analyses.

Mechanism of small molecule inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum myosin A informs antimalarial drug design

This paper identifies a small molecule inhibitor of Plasmodium falciparum myosin A, showing it blocks ATP hydrolysis and parasite growth.