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Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins

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Published on: January 26, 2019

Cooperative molecular motors moving back and forth.

David Gillo¹, Barak Gur, Anne Bernheim-Groswasser

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, Ben Gurion University, Be'er Sheva 84105, Israel.

Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics

|October 2, 2009

Summary

This study models cooperative bidirectional motion of molecular motors on cytoskeletal tracks. Adding elastic tension from motors dramatically reduces motion reversal time, especially with many motors, but requires apolar tracks for bidirectional movement.

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Characterizing the Composition of Molecular Motors on Moving Axonal Cargo Using "Cargo Mapping" Analysis

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Published on: October 30, 2014

Area of Science:

Biophysics
Cell Biology
Statistical Mechanics

Background:

Molecular motors drive intracellular transport along cytoskeletal tracks.
Collective motor dynamics are crucial for cellular processes.
Previous models did not fully account for track elasticity due to motor cooperativity.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the impact of elastic tension from cooperative molecular motors on bidirectional motion.
To analyze the influence of track polarity on collective motor dynamics.
To understand the mechanisms governing the reversal time of motor movement.

Main Methods:

Utilized a two-state ratchet model for molecular motor dynamics.
Incorporated cooperativity effects from elastic tension in the cytoskeletal track.
Employed computational simulations and analytical methods for analysis.

Main Results:

Elastic tension significantly reduces the characteristic reversal time of bidirectional motion, particularly with a high motor count.
Bidirectional motion is observed exclusively on apolar tracks.
Slightly polar tracks result in unidirectional cooperative motion.

Conclusions:

Elastic tension is a key factor modulating molecular motor collective dynamics.
Track polarity critically determines the directionality of cooperative motor transport.
The balance of motors working with or against the motion dictates dynamic behavior.