Regulatory Mechanisms of Cargo Transport Kinesin Motors

Kinesins are mechanochemical molecular motors that convert the chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work. Kinesins are capable of stepping processively along intracellular microtubules, a mechanism harnessed by cells to transport a myriad of intracellular cargos in a directional fashion. A subset of kinesin motors is specialized for long-distance intracellular cargo transport, and much research in the past four decades has dissected the structural, biochemical, and biophysical mechanisms of kinesin movement. However, we lack a similarly detailed description of higher-level kinesin regulation for these transport motors. How kinesin motor activity is controlled through autoinhibition and activation of the motor is just beginning to be understood. We have focused our research on understanding how transport kinesin activity is regulated by both intra- and inter-molecular mechanisms. I will present our recent findings on these topics and highlight future questions for the field to consider.

Speaker: Richard McKenney, UC Davis