Actin filaments are crucial for cell migration and the maintenance of cellular morphology. In addition, a role for actin in membrane trafficking is emerging for both the endocytic and the secretory pathway (for recent reviews, see
DePina and Langford, 1999 
;
De Matteis and Morrow, 2000 
;
Qualmann et al., 2000 
;
Apodaca, 2001 
;
May and Machesky, 2001 
;
Stamnes, 2002 
). Although the role of actin in the secretory pathway has long been elusive, a breakthrough in our understanding has come with the use of highly specific inhibitors of actin polymerization, such as latrunculins and botulinum C2 toxin. Thus, actin filaments play a significant role in basolateral and Golgi-to-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein transport in polarized and nonpolarized mammalian cells, respectively (
Müsch et al., 1997 
,
2001 
;
Valderrama et al., 2000 
,
2001 
). Additional results that substantiated the involvement of actin in membrane trafficking in mammalian cells stem from the presence of members of myosin superfamily in organelle and vesicle transport in the secretory and endocytic pathways. For example, myosin V transports ER-derived vesicles in nerve cells (
Tabb et al., 1998 
) and interacts with synaptic vesicle proteins (
Prekeris and Terrian, 1997 
;
Miller and Sheetz, 2000 
); myosin I was initially detected in isolated Golgi fractions and vesicles (
Fath and Burgess, 1993 
;
Fath et al., 1994 
;
Montes de Oca et al., 1997 
), although it seems to be functionally and structurally involved in the endocytic pathway (
Cordonnier et al., 2001 
, and references therein); myosin VI has been localized in the Golgi complex (
Buss et al., 1998 
) but to date has only been shown to be functionally involved in clathrin-mediated endocytosis (
Buss et al., 2001 
); and finally, myosin II has been implicated in the formation of and immunolocalized in
trans-Golgi–derived transport carriers (
Narula and Stow, 1995 
;
Ikonen et al., 1996 
,
1997 
;
Ecay et al., 1997 
;
Müsch et al., 1997 
;
Heimann et al., 1999 
), although with controversial results (
Simon et al., 1998 
;
Stow et al., 1998 
). Taken together, these results suggest that myosins are involved in intracellular trafficking by binding to subcellular compartments and generating force, either in the formation or the movement of vesicular carriers.
Until recently, the only known mechanism by which membrane structures moved along actin tracks was the myosin motors. However, the molecular mechanisms for the intracellular movement of certain pathogens through the formation of actin comets (for recent reviews, see
Cossart, 2000 
;
Goldberg, 2001 
) have also been observed in secretory and endocytic vesicles (
Merrifield et al., 1999 
,
2001 
;
Rozelle et al., 2000 
;
Taunton et al., 2000 
;
Orth et al., 2002 
;
Benesch et al., 2002 
;
Lee and De Camilli, 2002 
). An actin comet is a characteristic structure easily visible by light microscopy, which results from a focalized actin polymerization (the tail) onto endomembranes and that acts as a driving force to propel them through the cytoplasm (for review, see
Taunton, 2001 
). Vesicle rocketing basically requires N-WASP and Arp2/3 (
Rozelle et al., 2000 
;
Benesch et al., 2002 
). We have recently reported that N-WASP/Arp2/3 regulates Golgi-to-ER protein transport (
Luna et al., 2002 
), and, therefore, it is possible that actin comets propel Golgi-to-ER transport carriers (for review, see
Ridley, 2001 
).
Herein, we examine whether myosin motors, which exert force against actin filaments, move these Golgi-to-ER transport carriers or, in contrast, they are propelled by actin comets, as occurs with some pathogens. The results indicate that only myosin motors move to transport carriers along actin filaments in the Golgi-to-ER pathway. In addition, we provide direct evidence that nonmuscle myosin II is involved in this process.