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Related Experiment Videos

Dynein arms are oscillating force generators

C Shingyoji1, H Higuchi, M Yoshimura

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Japan. chikako@biol.s.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Nature
|June 26, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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The motor protein dynein, which powers flagellar movement, exhibits inherent oscillatory force generation. This oscillation, observed even with few dynein arms, may be fundamental to eukaryotic flagellar beating.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Motors

Background:

  • Eukaryotic flagella generate rhythmic motion crucial for cellular functions.
  • Dynein motor proteins are responsible for powering flagellar beating.
  • The intrinsic properties of dynein and the axoneme's role in oscillation are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether oscillation is an intrinsic property of dynein arms.
  • To determine if an intact axoneme is required for dynein-driven oscillation.
  • To characterize the force generation and oscillatory behavior of individual or small groups of dynein arms.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized optical trapping nanometry to measure forces generated by dynein arms.
  • Isolated doublet microtubules were used as tracks for dynein motor activity.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Activated dynein arms using photolysis of caged ATP to initiate force generation measurements.

    • Main Results:

    • A few dynein arms generated a peak force of ~6 pN, moving microtubules processively.
    • Observed oscillatory force and displacement with peak-to-peak force of ~2 pN and amplitude of ~30 nm.
    • Oscillation frequency (~70 Hz at 0.75 mM ATP) was dependent on ATP concentration and observed even with inner dynein arms alone.

    Conclusions:

    • Dynein arms exhibit intrinsic oscillatory force generation, potentially independent of the full axoneme structure.
    • The data suggest that dynein arm oscillation is a fundamental mechanism underlying flagellar beating.
    • This finding provides insights into the basic mechanics of molecular motors driving biological movement.