Micron-scale protein transport along microtubules by kinesin-driven shepherding.

ABSTRACT: Microtubule-based long-distance transport in eukaryotic cells typically involves the binding of cargo to motors such as highly processive kinesins for unidirectional transport. An open question is whether long-distance transport can occur by mechanisms that do not require specific motor-cargo interactions and high processivity. In addition to conventional cargo such as vesicles, kinesin also shuttles non-motor microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) to microtubule ends. Computational modeling of a system of a motor and a MAP that do not bind directly with one another unexpectedly revealed the redistribution of the MAP to microtubule plus ends, suggesting an unconventional mode of protein transport. We recapitulated this phenomenon experimentally in a minimal in vitro system using a k

SUBMITTER: Farhadi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12236772 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature