Measuring molecular motor forces in vivo: implications for tug-of-war models of bidirectional transport.

ABSTRACT: Molecular motor proteins use the energy released from ATP hydrolysis to generate force and haul cargoes along cytoskeletal filaments. Thus, measuring the force motors generate amounts to directly probing their function. We report on optical trapping methodology capable of making precise in vivo stall-force measurements of individual cargoes hauled by molecular motors in their native environment. Despite routine measurement of motor forces in vitro, performing and calibrating such measurements in vivo has been challenging. We describe the methodology recently developed to overcome these difficulties, and used to measure stall forces of both kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein-driven lipid droplets in Drosophila embryos. Critically, by measuring the cargo dynamics in the optical trap, we find t

SUBMITTER: Leidel C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3414874 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature