Myosin VI contributes to malignant proliferation of human glioma cells

Myosin VI contributes to malignant proliferation of human glioma cells

Previously characterized as a backward motor, myosin VI (<i>MYO6</i>), which belongs to myosin family, moves toward the minus end of the actin track, a direction opposite to all other known myosin members. Recent researches have illuminated the role of <i>MYO6 </i>in human cancers, particularly in prostate cancer. However, the role of <i>MYO6 </i>in glioma has not yet been determined. In this study, to explore the role of <i>MYO6 </i>in human glioma, lentivirus-delivered short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting <i>MYO6 </i>was designed to stably down-regulate its endogenous expression in glioblastoma cells U251. Knockdown of <i>MYO6 </i>significantly inhibited viability and proliferation of U251 cells in vitro. Moreover, the cell cycle of U251 cells was arrested at G0/G1 phase with the absence of <i>MYO6</i>, which could contribute to the suppression of cell proliferation. In conclusion, we firstly identified the crucial involvement of <i>MYO6 </i>in human glioma. The inhibition of <i>MYO6 </i>by shRNA might be a potential therapeutic method in human glioma.