Kinesin steps do not alternate in size

Biophys J. 2008 Feb 1;94(3):L20-2. doi: 10.1529/biophysj.107.126839. Epub 2007 Dec 14.

Abstract

Kinesin is a two-headed motor protein that transports cargo inside cells by moving stepwise on microtubules. Its exact trajectory along the microtubule is unknown: alternative pathway models predict either uniform 8-nm steps or alternating 7- and 9-nm steps. By analyzing single-molecule stepping traces from "limping" kinesin molecules, we were able to distinguish alternate fast- and slow-phase steps and thereby to calculate the step sizes associated with the motions of each of the two heads. We also compiled step distances from nonlimping kinesin molecules and compared these distributions against models predicting uniform or alternating step sizes. In both cases, we find that kinesin takes uniform 8-nm steps, a result that strongly constrains the allowed models.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Kinesins / chemistry*
  • Kinesins / ultrastructure*
  • Microtubules / chemistry*
  • Microtubules / ultrastructure*
  • Models, Chemical
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / chemistry*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / ultrastructure*
  • Motion

Substances

  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Kinesins