Pig brain homogenates contain smooth muscle myosin and cytoplasmic myosin isoforms

Summary Three myosin isoforms, two of smooth muscle and one of cytoplasmic origin, were found in porcine brain by Western blotting analysis with antibodies specific for smooth and cytoplasmic myosins. The smooth muscle isoforms comprise at least 30% of the total myosin present. Brain tissue is therefore not a suitable source for the isolation of pure cytoplasmic contractile proteins.Abbreviations DTE dithioerythritol - EDTA ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - FITC fluorescein isothiocyanate - PBS phosphate buffered saline - SDS PAGE polyacrylamide electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecylsulphate - TRIS tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane