Unconventional myosins, ie those that are not found in muscle, have the common, classical-type head domain, sometimes a neck with the IQ calmodulin-binding motifs, and then non-standard tails. These tails determine the subcellular localisation of the unconventional myosins and also help determine their individual functions. The family carries several different unconventional myosins, eg. Myo1f is expressed mainly in immune cells as well as in the inner ear where it can be associated with deafness, Myo1d has a lipid-binding module in their tail and is implicated in endosome vesicle recycling in epithelial cells. Myo1a, b, c and g from various eukaryotes are also found in this family.

1: Modulation of cell adhesion and motility in the immune system by Myo1f. Kim SV, Mehal WZ, Dong X, Heinrich V, Pypaert M, Mellman I, Dembo M, Mooseker MS, Wu D, Flavell RA; Science. 2006;314:136-139. PMID:17023661

2: Are MYO1C and MYO1F associated with hearing loss?. Zadro C, Alemanno MS, Bellacchio E, Ficarella R, Donaudy F, Melchionda S, Zelante L, Rabionet R, Hilgert N, Estivill X, Van Camp G, Gasparini P, Carella M; Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009;1792:27-32. PMID:19027848

3: Principles of unconventional myosin function and targeting. Hartman MA, Finan D, Sivaramakrishnan S, Spudich JA; Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2011;27:133-155. PMID:21639800