MYL7
Description
The MYL7 (myosin light chain 7) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 7.
ALC-2, also known as Myosin regulatory light chain 2, atrial isoform (MLC2a), is a protein encoded by the MYL7 gene. It is specifically expressed in the atria of the heart in healthy individuals and plays a role in modulating cardiac development and contractility. Its expression is altered in several heart diseases, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. ALC-2 is an EF hand protein with a molecular weight of 19.4 kDa, composed of 175 amino acids. It binds to the neck region of the alpha myosin heavy chain. ALC-2 shares similarities with the ventricular isoform, VLC-2, but with significant differences at their N-termini and regulatory phosphorylation sites. ALC-2 expression serves as a marker for cardiac muscle chamber distinction, development, and differentiation. Its expression pattern differs from atrial essential light chain (ALC-1) during cardiogenesis. In adult murine hearts, ALC-2 expression is cardiac-specific from embryonic days 8-16, becoming restricted to the atria from day 12 onwards. It exhibits very low levels in the aorta and is undetectable in ventricles, skeletal muscle, uterus, and liver.
The MYL7 gene encodes the atrial light chain-2 (ALC-2) protein, which is specifically expressed in the atria of the heart. ALC-2 plays a crucial role in regulating cardiac development and contractility. Its expression is altered in various heart diseases, including hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, dilated cardiomyopathy, and ischemic cardiomyopathy, highlighting its potential importance in cardiac health.
MYL7 is also known as MYL2A, MYLC2A.
