Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins01:32

Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins

10.7K
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...
10.7K
Protein-protein Interfaces02:04

Protein-protein Interfaces

14.7K
Many proteins form complexes to carry out their functions, making protein-protein interactions (PPIs) essential for an organism's survival. Most PPIs are stabilized by numerous weak noncovalent chemical forces. The physical shape of the interfaces determines the way two proteins interact. Many globular proteins have closely-matching shapes on their surfaces, which form a large number of weak bonds. Additionally, many PPIs occur between two helices or between a surface cleft and a...
14.7K
Motor Units00:46

Motor Units

61.9K
A motor unit consists of two main components: a single efferent motor neuron (i.e., a neuron that carries impulses away from the central nervous system) and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. The motor neuron may innervate multiple muscle fibers, which are single cells, but only one motor neuron innervates a single muscle fiber.
61.9K
Motor Units01:13

Motor Units

8.1K
The motor unit is a fundamental component of the neuromuscular system and plays a crucial role in coordinating muscle contractions. It consists of a somatic motor neuron, which connects and controls multiple skeletal muscle fibers, forming a single functional segment. The axon of the motor neuron branches out and establishes synaptic connections known as neuromuscular junctions with individual muscle fibers within the motor unit.
Motor units come in different sizes, with smaller units...
8.1K
Motor Unit Stimulation01:20

Motor Unit Stimulation

3.8K
When the neuron of a motor unit fires an action potential, it triggers a series of events, leading to a twitch contraction in the muscle fibers. The process of excitation-contraction coupling is crucial in relaying the action potential to the muscle fibers.
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
3.8K
Hierarchy of Motor Control01:18

Hierarchy of Motor Control

6.2K
The hierarchy of motor control refers to the different levels of organization and processing involved in controlling movement in the body. These levels range from higher cortical areas involved in planning and decision-making to lower spinal cord reflexes that respond automatically to external stimuli.
6.2K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Aggregation-State Dynamics Drive Double Cooperativity Between Antimicrobial Peptides LL-37 and HNP1.

Angewandte Chemie (International ed. in English)·2026
Same author

Biased movement of monomeric kinesin-3 KLP-6 explained by a symmetric Brownian ratchet model.

Biophysical journal·2024
Same author

Characteristics of nuclear architectural abnormalities of myotubes differentiated from Lmna<sup>H222P/H222P</sup> skeletal muscle cells.

In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal·2024
Same author

Modeling the motion of disease-associated KIF1A heterodimers.

Biophysical journal·2023
Same author

Number of kinesins engaged in axonal cargo transport: A novel biomarker for neurological disorders.

Neuroscience research·2023
Same author

Fast backward steps and detachment of single kinesin molecules measured under a wide range of loads.

Traffic (Copenhagen, Denmark)·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres
08:52

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres

Published on: April 12, 2021

3.7K

A Unified Walking Model for Dimeric Motor Proteins.

Kazuo Sasaki1, Motoshi Kaya2, Hideo Higuchi3

  • 1Department of Applied Physics, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.

Biophysical Journal
|November 7, 2018
PubMed
Summary

A new mathematical model explains how motor proteins like kinesin-1, cytoplasmic dynein-1, and myosin-V adjust their step ratio and dwell time under varying loads. This unified model accurately describes motor protein movement dynamics across different conditions.

More Related Videos

Creating Highly Specific Chemically Induced Protein Dimerization Systems by Stepwise Phage Selection of a Combinatorial Single-Domain Antibody Library
10:17

Creating Highly Specific Chemically Induced Protein Dimerization Systems by Stepwise Phage Selection of a Combinatorial Single-Domain Antibody Library

Published on: January 14, 2020

8.3K
Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
10:28

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Published on: July 24, 2019

16.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres
08:52

Chemical Dimerization-Induced Protein Condensates on Telomeres

Published on: April 12, 2021

3.7K
Creating Highly Specific Chemically Induced Protein Dimerization Systems by Stepwise Phage Selection of a Combinatorial Single-Domain Antibody Library
10:17

Creating Highly Specific Chemically Induced Protein Dimerization Systems by Stepwise Phage Selection of a Combinatorial Single-Domain Antibody Library

Published on: January 14, 2020

8.3K
Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
10:28

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease

Published on: July 24, 2019

16.2K

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cellular Mechanics

Background:

  • Motor proteins (kinesin-1, dynein-1, myosin-V) move along cytoskeletal filaments in a stepwise manner.
  • Their movement dynamics, including step size, step direction (forward/backward), and dwell time, are influenced by external load.
  • Existing models often lack a unified approach to explain these load dependencies across different motor types.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a unified mathematical model explaining the load-dependent movement of dimeric motor proteins.
  • To quantitatively describe the relationship between load, step ratio (backward/forward steps), and dwell time for kinesin, dynein, and myosin.
  • To validate the model using existing and reanalyzed experimental data.

Main Methods:

  • Construction of a three-state mathematical model for motor protein movement.
  • Representation of forward and backward steps as transitions between states.
  • Quantitative analysis and fitting of the model to experimental data for step ratio (r) and dwell time (τ).
  • Reanalysis of cytoplasmic dynein-1 data to supplement insufficient literature data.

Main Results:

  • The model provides simple exponential expressions for step ratio (r) and dwell time (τ).
  • The model successfully describes the load dependencies of r and τ for kinesin-1, cytoplasmic dynein-1, and myosin-V.
  • The model's predictions align with experimental data across a wide range of loads, from assisting to superstall conditions.
  • Backward steps are not simple reversals of forward steps but involve transitions through different states.

Conclusions:

  • A unified, simple mathematical model can quantitatively explain the load-dependent behavior of diverse motor proteins.
  • The model provides insights into the underlying mechanics of motor protein stepping and load adaptation.
  • The findings advance our understanding of intracellular transport and force generation by molecular motors.