Nuclear actin and myosins at a glance

Actin and myosin II form the archetypical molecular motor complex. Myosin II, like all members of the myosin superfamily, is an actin-activated ATPase that uses the energy released when ATP is hydrolyzed to do work. Although we typically associate work with muscle contraction, cell motility and cell division, many nuclear processes require energy. Historically, the notion that the nucleus contains actin or myosin has been highly controversial. Because filaments are central to the biological functions of actin, this controversy was fueled by the absence of actin or myosin filaments in the nucleus. Nevertheless,