Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins

Microtubule 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...

The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles

The 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,...

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules 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...

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules 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...

Destabilization of Microtubules

Destabilization of Microtubules

The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...

Diversity of Protists II

Diversity of Protists II

Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Phylogeny-driven pangenome analysis uncovers the genomic landscape of domesticated and wild Armeniaca species.

Horticulture research·2026

Same author

A Chromosome-Level Assembly of the Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) genome.

The Journal of heredity·2026

Same author

A chromosome-level genome assembly of Vanilla planifolia uncovers the genomic architecture underlying partial endoreplication.

BMC genomics·2026

Same author

Dominance modifiers at the Arabidopsis self-incompatibility locus retain proto-miRNA features and act through non-canonical pathways.

PLoS genetics·2026

Same author

Adaptive Challenges of Past and Future Invasion of Drosophila suzukii: Insights From Novel Genomic Resources and Statistical Methods Combining Individual and Pool Sequencing Data.

Molecular ecology·2025

Same author

Chromosome-scale assembly of European flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genotypes and pangenomic analysis provide genomic tools to improve breeding.

BMC genomics·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells

Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells

Published on: February 2, 2022

Flagellar kinesins in protists.

William Marande¹, Linda Kohl

¹Adaptation Processes of Protists to their Environment, UMR7245 CNRS/MNHN Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 57, rue Cuvier, CP52, 75231 Paris, France.

Future Microbiology

|March 4, 2011

Summary

Cilia and flagella utilize intraflagellar transport powered by motor proteins like kinesins. These kinesins, crucial for organelle assembly and function, show significant diversity in their roles across eukaryotes.

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Molecular Biology
Biochemistry

Background:

Cilia and flagella are vital eukaryotic organelles with conserved structures but diverse functions.
Intraflagellar transport (IFT), powered by motor proteins, is essential for their assembly.
Kinesin and dynein motor proteins are key components of IFT.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the diversity and function of kinesin motor proteins in cilia and flagella.
To understand the role of kinesin diversification in fulfilling various cellular functions.
To identify the specific kinesin families involved in flagellum assembly and maintenance.

Main Methods:

Phylogenetic analysis of kinesin protein families.
Functional analysis of kinesin roles in cilia and flagella.

More Related Videos

Identification of Kinesin-1 Cargos Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Identification of Kinesin-1 Cargos Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: February 14, 2016

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Published on: October 18, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells

Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells

Published on: February 2, 2022

Identification of Kinesin-1 Cargos Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Identification of Kinesin-1 Cargos Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: February 14, 2016

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Immobilization of Caenorhabditis elegans to Analyze Intracellular Transport in Neurons

Published on: October 18, 2017

Comparative studies across different eukaryotic organisms, including protists and mammals.

Main Results:

At least seven distinct kinesin families are implicated in flagellum assembly and function.
Kinesins exhibit conserved motor domains but diversified accessory domains.
This diversification correlates with multiple functions, including cargo transport and microtubule dynamics.

Conclusions:

Kinesin motor proteins play a multifaceted role in the assembly and function of cilia and flagella.
The diversity of kinesin families reflects the varied roles these organelles perform in different species.
Understanding kinesin function is key to comprehending cilia and flagella biology across eukaryotes.