These Motors Were Made for Walking
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Authors
Hunter, Byron
Allingham, John
Date
2020-05-29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Keyword
Kinesin , Motor Protein , Microtubules , Tubulin , Crystal Structure , Cryo-EM Structure
Alternative Title
Abstract
Kinesins are a diverse group of ATP‐dependent motor proteins that transport cargos along microtubules (MTs) and change the organization of MT networks. Shared among all kinesins is a ~ 40 kDa motor domain that has evolved an impressive assortment of motility and MT remodeling mechanisms as a result of subtle tweaks and edits within its sequence. Several elegant studies of different kinesin isoforms have exposed the purpose of structural changes in the motor domain as it engages and leaves the MT. However, few studies have compared the sequences and MT contacts of these kinesins systematically. Along with clever strategies to trap kinesin‐tubulin complexes for X‐ray crystallography, new advancements in cryo‐electron microscopy have produced a burst of high‐resolution structures that show kinesin–MT interfaces more precisely than ever. This review considers the MT interactions of kinesin subfamilies that exhibit significant differences in speed, processivity, and MT remodeling activity. We show how their sequence variations relate to their tubulin footprint and, in turn, how this explains the molecular activities of previously characterized mutants. As more high‐resolution structures become available, this type of assessment will quicken the pace toward establishing each kinesin’s design‐function relationship.
Description
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Hunter, B. and Allingham, J.S. (2020), These motors were made for walking. Protein Science. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1002/pro.3895, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/pro.3895. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions.
Citation
Hunter, B. and Allingham, J.S. (2020), These motors were made for walking. Protein Science. Accepted Author Manuscript. doi:10.1002/pro.3895
Publisher
Wiley