Differential Regulation of Dynein and Kinesin Motor Proteins by Tau

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1152993
• Publication Date: 2008-01-18T01:54:21Z
• Authors: Ram Dixit; Jennifer L. Ross; Yale E. Goldman; Erika L. F. Holzbaur
• Keywords: Kinesin; Dynactin; Microtubule-associated protein; Axoplasmic transport; Dynein ATPase

Dynein and kinesin motor proteins transport cellular cargoes toward opposite ends of microtubule tracks. In neurons, microtubules are abundantly decorated with microtubule-associated (MAPs) such as tau. Motor thus encounter MAPs frequently along their path. To determine the effects tau on dynein motility, we conducted single-molecule studies moving tau-decorated microtubules. tended to reverse direction, whereas detach at patches bound Kinesin was inhibited about a tenth concentration that dynein, microtubule-binding domain sufficient inhibit activity. The differential modulation motility suggests can spatially regulate balance microtubule-dependent axonal transport.