Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 23, 2026

Probing Myosin Ensemble Mechanics in Actin Filament Bundles Using Optical Tweezers
Published on: May 4, 2022
Self-organization and cooperativity of weakly coupled molecular motors under unequal loading
Jan Brugués1, Jaume Casademunt
1Departament d'ECM, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal 647, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Abstract:
We study the collective dynamics of Brownian motors moving on a one-dimensional track when an external load is applied to the leading motor. Motors are driven by a two-state ratchet mechanism, which is appropriate to single-headed kinesins, and their relative motion is only constrained by their mutual interaction potential (weak coupling). We show that unequal loading enhances cooperativity, leading to the formation of clusters with velocities and efficiencies higher than those predicted by simple superposition. When a weak attraction between motors is present, we find nonmonotonic collective velocity-force curves, hysteretic phenomena, and a dynamic self-regulation mechanism that selects the cluster size for optimal performance.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
Anaphase A and B
Plus-end depolymerization releases tubulin heterodimers from the terminal region of the microtubule. As tubulin subunits are lost, the Ndc80 complexes detach...
Mechanical Protein Functions
Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins
Mechanism of Ciliary Motion
The cilia are made up of microtubules in a 9+2 arrangement, with nine microtubule doublet ring bundles, surrounding a pair of central singlet microtubule bundles. The doublet microtubule bundles are...
Microtubules in Cell Motility

