Cloning of the cDNA encoding rat myosin heavy chain-A and evidence for the absence of myosin heavy chain-B in cultured rat mast (RBL-2H3) cells.

The complete amino acid sequence (1961 amino acids) of a vertebrate cellular myosin heavy chain-A was deduced from cDNA clones of a secretory rat mast cell line, the RBL-2H3 cell. The rat, human and chicken cellular myosin heavy chain-A exhibited high similarity in domains that allow binding of ATP and actin. The amino acid sequence of non-muscle myosin heavy chain-A from rat was 96% identical to that in human and 92% identical to that in chicken. Northern blot analysis of mRNA indicated the presence of single message of 7.4 kilobases. Northern blot, reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot with isoform-specific antibodies indicated that RBL-2H3 cells expressed exclusively myosin heavy chain-A. Unlike rat PC12 cells, as well as a wide variety of other cultured cells and tissues, myosin heavy chain-B mRNA and protein were not detectable in RBL-2H3 cells. Because RBL-2H3 cells can be stimulated to release secretory granules as well as newly generated arachidonic acid and cytokines but lack myosin heavy chain-B, this cell line may provide a unique model to study the role of myosin heavy chain-A in cellular responses to antigen and other stimulants.