noun
- A protein fragment produced by partial digestion of myosin, consisting of either the head or tail portion of the myosin molecule.
- Specifically, heavy meromyosin (HMM) or light meromyosin (LMM), referring to the two major fragments obtained when myosin is cleaved by proteolytic enzymes.
Usage: biochemistry; molecular biology; used in research on muscle contraction and protein structure
Usage: technical; biochemistry
Examples
- Researchers used meromyosin to study how myosin heads interact with actin filaments.
- Heavy meromyosin retains the motor activity of the original myosin molecule.
- Light meromyosin forms the structural backbone of the myosin thick filament.
- The isolation of meromyosin fragments helped scientists understand muscle contraction at the molecular level.
- Meromyosin preparations are commonly used in in vitro motility assays.