Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
10:46
Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells
Published on: February 2, 2022
The mitotic kinesin CENP-E is a processive transport motor
Hasan Yardimci1, Marilyn van Duffelen, Yinghui Mao
1Department of Physics and Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
Summary
Centromeric protein E (CENP-E) moves chromosomes during cell division. Single-molecule studies reveal CENP-E functions like kinesin-1, suggesting a similar transport mechanism for chromosomes and vesicles.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Motors
- Biophysics
Background:
- Centromeric protein E (CENP-E) is vital for chromosome movement during mitosis.
- The precise mechanism by which CENP-E facilitates chromosome alignment remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the single-molecule mechanism of CENP-E motor function.
- To compare CENP-E's mechanical properties to other kinesin motors.
Main Methods:
- Single-molecule force measurements
- Analysis of microtubule-based motility
- Biochemical assays for ATP dependence
Main Results:
- CENP-E exhibits processive movement towards microtubule plus ends.
- Characterized step size (8 nm), run length (2.6 µm), and stall force (6 pN).
- ATP kinetics follow Michaelis-Menten behavior (K(M,ATP) = 35 µM).
Conclusions:
- CENP-E operates via a hand-over-hand mechanism, similar to kinesin-1.
- Proposes an analogous transport model for chromosomes by CENP-E as for vesicles by kinesin-1.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:43The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
01:32Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins
Eukaryotic cells have different motor proteins for transporting various cargo within the cell. These motor proteins differ based on the filament they associate with, the direction they move within the cell, and the type of cargo they transport. Motor proteins that associate with microtubules are known as microtubule-associated motor proteins. There are two families of microtubule-associated motor proteins —Kinesins and Dyneins. Both these proteins assist in the transport of cellular cargos...
02:27The Mitotic Spindle
The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...
02:27The Mitotic Spindle
The mitotic spindle—or spindle apparatus—is a eukaryotic, cytoskeletal structure made up of long protein fibers called microtubules. Formed during cell division, the spindle separates sister chromatids and moves them to opposite ends of a parental cell, where the now individual chromosomes are distributed to two daughter cell nuclei.
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...
The bipolar configuration of the mitotic spindle facilitates chromosomal segregation, preparing the cell for division. One mechanism that ensures bipolar mitotic...
01:39Anaphase A and B
Microtubules form through the end-to-end polymerization of tubulin heterodimers. Kinetochore microtubules originate from the spindle poles, and their plus-ends connect with the kinetochores on sister-chromatids. Ndc80 protein complexes, present on the kinetochore, form low-affinity links with the plus end of these kinetochore microtubules.
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...
01:24Microtubules in Cell Motility
Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...