Multi-Scale Investigation on the Mechanisms of Dyneins’ Motion on Microtubule

Abstract

An investigation using multi-scale simulation methods has been applied to dynein-microtubule system to reveal the mechanisms of dyneins’ motion on microtubule. This study mainly focuses on the interactions between dynein's MTBD (microtubule biding domain) and microtubule. We find that the electrostatic interactions play important roles in dyneins’ motion: The electrostatic binding funnel around tubulin is observed, which guides the dynein's MTBD to bind to the binding pocket. Due to the binding funnel, the motor domain of a dynein does not need to deliver the MTBD into the tubulin binding pocket precisely.