A Point Mutation in the SH1 Helix Alters Elasticity and Thermal Stability of Myosin II

Movement generated by the myosin motor is generally thought to be driven by distortion of an elastic element within the myosin molecule and subsequent release of the resulting strain. However, the location of this elastic element in myosin remains unclear. The myosin motor domain consists of four major subdomains connected by flexible joints. The SH1 helix is the joint that connects the converter subdomain to the other domains, and is thought to...