Opposing motors take the strain

Molecular Motors Take Tension in Stride

Mechanical tension controls the function of a wide variety of eukaryotic motor proteins. Single-molecule analyses have revealed how some of these proteins sense and respond to tension. The single motor studies on dynein by Reck-Peterson et al (2006) described in this issue pave the way to understand molecular mechanisms used by this unique machine.

Let the brain take the strain.

Kinesin Motors: No Strain, No Gain

The processive movement of the dimeric motor protein kinesin 1 along microtubules requires communication between the two motor domains. Yildiz et al. (2008) now show that tension between the motor domains not only is necessary for normal processivity but also may be sufficient for motor motility under some conditions.

Opposing Microtubule Motors Control Motility , Morphology , and Cargo Segregation during Er - to - Golgi Transport . Anna

We recently demonstrated that dynein and kinesin motors drive multiple aspects of endosomal function in mammalian 2 cells. These functions include driving motility, maintaining morphology (notably through providing longitudinal tension 3 to support vesicle fission), and driving cargo sorting. Microtubule motors drive bidirectional motility during traffic 4 between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)...

Opposing microtubule motors control motility, morphology and cargo segregation during ER-to-Golgi transport

We recently demonstrated that dynein and kinesin motors drive multiple aspects of endosomal function in mammalian cells. These functions include driving motility, maintaining morphology (notably through providing longitudinal tension to support vesicle fission), and driving cargo sorting. Microtubule motors drive bidirectional motility during traffic between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and G...