Extreme value analysis of the velocity of axonal transport by kinesin and dynein

Abstract

Although previous studies have investigated motor differences in in vitro single-molecule experiments, this study aimed to discover motor differences in vivo as well. In particular, we focused on the synaptic cargo transport in DA9 motor neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans. The motion of synaptic cargos was observed by fluorescence microscopy, and the velocity was measured using kymograph analysis. Kinesin and dynein differ in structure, ATP-hydrolysis mechanism, and dynamics. Although the average velocity is sensitive to the cargo size, we consider that the results of extreme value analysis (EVA) are independent of it.