Myosin, a structural component of muscle, consists of two heavy chains and four light chains. The protein encoded by this gene is a myosin light chain that may regulate muscle contraction by modulating the ATPase activity of myosin heads. The encoded protein binds calcium and is activated by myosin light chain kinase. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Forensic Context
A study in human and rat corpus cavernosum tissues identified MYL9 as a myofibril component widely expressed in smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in both species [Yin et al. DOI:10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114760]. In human skin wound healing research, the MYL9 was identified as a myosin light chain marker expressed in a smooth muscle cell cluster via spatial transcriptomics [Liu et al. DOI:10.1016/j.stem.2024.11.013]. A study in mice demonstrated that the MYL9 gene (MYL9) was differentially expressed in blood leukocytes 2 hours after injury, showing downregulation in a burn model but upregulation in models of lipopolysaccharide infusion and trauma/hemorrhage compared to sham controls [Brownstein et al. DOI:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00213.2005].