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Related Concept Videos

The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles01:43

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,...
Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins01:32

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...
Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport01:45

Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport

Eukaryotic cells have different membrane-bound organelles with distinct protein requirements. The process by which proteins are targeted to a specific organelle is called protein sorting.
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation.  In gated transport, folded...
COP Coated Vesicles00:59

COP Coated Vesicles

Membrane-enclosed structures called vesicles transport proteins and lipids across the cell. The vesicles derive their cargo from the plasma membrane, Golgi, ER, or endosome. Coated vesicles are spherical, protein-coated carriers with a 50–100 nm diameter that mediate bidirectional transport between the ER and the Golgi. The distribution of proteins between the ER and Golgi complex is dynamic and is maintained by different coated vesicles. Their formation is driven by the assembly of different...
Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration01:32

Cytoskeletal Coordination in Cell Migration

A migrating cell changes its shape during the cyclic events of attachment and detachment from the substratum and repositions the cell organelles correspondingly. These complex events are orchestrated by the dynamic cytoskeletal network comprising actin filaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules. Cytoskeletal crosstalk — the direct and indirect communication between the different components — is crucial for this coordination. Direct communication involves various linker proteins that...
Anaphase A and B01:39

Anaphase 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...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 10, 2026

Characterizing the Composition of Molecular Motors on Moving Axonal Cargo Using "Cargo Mapping" Analysis
11:09

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

Published on: October 30, 2014

MAPping out distribution routes for kinesin couriers.

Joseph Atherton1, Anne Houdusse, Carolyn Moores

  • 1Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Birkbeck College, London, WC1E 7HX, UK.

Biology of the Cell
|June 26, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Cellular component transport relies on kinesin motors and microtubule tracks. In neurons, specialized microtubule tracks, guided by MAPs, ensure accurate delivery of axonal cargo.

Keywords:
KinesinMicrotubuleMicrotubule-associated proteinNeuronTransport

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Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 10, 2026

Characterizing the Composition of Molecular Motors on Moving Axonal Cargo Using "Cargo Mapping" Analysis
11:09

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

Published on: October 30, 2014

Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles
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Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles

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Identification of Kinesin-1 Cargos Using Fluorescence Microscopy
08:06

Identification of Kinesin-1 Cargos Using Fluorescence Microscopy

Published on: February 14, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Diffusion is inefficient for cellular component distribution in crowded eukaryotic cells.
  • Long-distance active transport by molecular motors like kinesins is essential.
  • Neurons require sophisticated regulatory mechanisms for spatio-temporal delivery of components.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically review regulatory mechanisms for neuronal component delivery.
  • To focus on the role of compartmentalised microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs).

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on molecular motors, kinesins, and microtubule tracks.
  • Analysis of tubulin isoforms, post-translational modifications, GTPase activity, and MAPs.
  • Focus on neuron-specific transport mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • Kinesin machinery is diverse, with motor and adaptor proteins for specific cargo.
  • Motor recognition of sub-domain-specific microtubule tracks is a key delivery mechanism.
  • Track-based cues include tubulin variants, modifications, and MAPs.

Conclusions:

  • Alterations to microtubule tracks significantly influence axonal cargo transport.
  • Multiple synergistic track-based effects likely ensure accurate cargo distribution in vivo.