Human kinesin-5 KIF11 drives the helical motion of anti-parallel and parallel microtubules around each other.

ABSTRACT: During mitosis, motor proteins and microtubule-associated protein organize the spindle apparatus by cross-linking and sliding microtubules. Kinesin-5 plays a vital role in spindle formation and maintenance, potentially inducing twist in the spindle fibers. The off-axis power stroke of kinesin-5 could generate this twist, but its implications in microtubule organization remain unclear. Here, we investigate 3D microtubule-microtubule sliding mediated by the human kinesin-5, KIF11, and found that the motor caused right-handed helical motion of anti-parallel microtubules around each other. The sidestepping ratio increased with reduced ATP concentration, indicating that forward and sideways stepping of the motor are not strictly coupled. Further, the microtubule-microtubule distance (motor exte

SUBMITTER: Meißner L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10987665 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature