Organelle transport and sorting in axons

Recent advances of the past year in the field of organelle transport have documented the existence of numerous kinesin-related proteins and the presence of multiple conventional kinesins within neurons. Biochemical and genetic mutant analyses indicate that different kinesin superfamily members transport different organelles. In addition to microtubule-based systems, actin filaments and myosin motors are associated with organelle transport in axons. The great diversity of motor proteins suggests that they may play a role in sorting, in addition to transport.