Long-Range Coupling between Kinesins Regulates Collective Motor Behavior

Abstract

Coupling of motor proteins within large arrays drives muscle contraction, flagellar beating, chromosome segregation, and other biological processes. Short-range interaction mechanisms of motor coupling, such as steric crowding and mechanical linkage, have been well-studied. However, coupling mechanisms that act at longer length scales remain largely unexplored. Here we report evidence of long-range motor-motor coupling on microtubules at picomolar protein concentration, where short-range motor interactions are unlikely.