Microtubules' local and global order on membrane-bound motor proteins

Abstract

As part of the cytoskeleton, microtubules (MTs) are vital components of all Eukaryotic cells, important for cell division and intracellular transport. Converting chemical energy into mechanical energy, kinesin motor proteins “walk” on MTs, transporting cargo throughout the cell. In this project, we investigated MT-kinesin-based transportation. We take advantage of the microtubule gliding assay configuration to probe collective behavior in dense MT swarms. Experiments were performed using kinesin motors coupled to either a glass substrate or lipid bilayer.