Cooperative mechanisms in coupled motor proteins transport

[摘要] Subcellular cargos are transported by enzyme molecules called molecular motors by using the chemical energy from hydrolysis of ATP and performing mechanical work in non-equilibrium. Certain motors tread on cytoskeleton structures i.e. microtubules and actin filaments in a linear manner. Due to the polarity of the cytoskeleton structures the motors can accomplish cellular transport along one direction. Cargos often rely upon the collective action of more than one motor to transport them in order to surmount the crowding and visco-elastic effects of the surrounding medium through higher force generation. To understand the mechanism of cargo transport by precisely two kinesin-1 motors a combination of experimental and theoretical approaches were employed. This thesis focuses on understanding the mechanism of transport by considering interactions between closely spaced motors on the microtubules. The main finding of this thesis is that motors under the influence of each other's interaction with microtubules do affect the cargo dynamics.

[发布机构] Rice University

[效力级别] sciences