The biophysics of intracellular transport driven by structurally-defined systems of motor proteins

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dc.contributor.advisorDiehl, Michael R.
dc.creatorJamison, Kenneth
dc.date.accessioned2013-03-08T00:34:42Z
dc.date.available2013-03-08T00:34:42Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractThe number of motor proteins attached to cellular cargos is widely believed to influence intracellular transport processes and may play a role in transport regulation. However, to date, investigating the biophysics of multiple-motor dynamics has been challenging since the number of motors responsible for cargo motion is not easily characterized. This work examines the transport properties of structurally-defined motor complexes containing two kinesin-1 motors, from both an experimental and theoretical perspective. Motor complexes were synthesized using DNA as a molecular scaffold and engineered DNA-conjugated protein polymers as linkers to couple motors to scaffolds. After anchoring the motor complexes to a bead their dynamic properties were measured using an automated optical trapping instrument that could be used to perform both static (increasing load) and force-feedback (constant load) optical trapping experiments. Data from these experiments is compared to predictions from a microscopic transition rate model of multiple kinesin dynamics. Together, these studies uncovered that multiple kinesins typically cannot cooperate since the microtubule-bound configuration of a motor complex often prevents both kinesins from sharing cargo loads. Furthermore, multiple-motor behaviors are influenced by the fact that motor complexes display hysteretic force-velocity behaviors when applied loads change rapidly in time. Overall, such behaviors suggest the number of kinesins on a cargo will not be a key determinant of intracellular transport processes, and in turn, will not contribute appreciably to mechanisms that regulate cargo motion. However, this work also provides evidence that processive microtubule motors that are less efficient than kinesin (e.g., dynein) will cooperate productively, produce greater responses to motor number, and may therefore act as a regulator of cargo transport.
dc.format.extent277 p.en_US
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.callnoTHESIS BIOENG. 2011 JAMISON
dc.identifier.citationJamison, Kenneth. "The biophysics of intracellular transport driven by structurally-defined systems of motor proteins." (2011) Diss., Rice University. <a href="https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70276">https://hdl.handle.net/1911/70276</a>.
dc.identifier.digitalJamisonKen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1911/70276
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rightsCopyright is held by the author, unless otherwise indicated. Permission to reuse, publish, or reproduce the work beyond the bounds of fair use or other exemptions to copyright law must be obtained from the copyright holder.
dc.subjectApplied sciences
dc.subjectBiological sciences
dc.subjectIntracellular transport
dc.subjectMotor proteins
dc.subjectKinesin
dc.subjectDynein
dc.subjectOptical traps
dc.subjectMolecular biology
dc.subjectNanoscience
dc.subjectBiophysics
dc.titleThe biophysics of intracellular transport driven by structurally-defined systems of motor proteins
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialText
thesis.degree.departmentBioengineering
thesis.degree.disciplineEngineering
thesis.degree.grantorRice University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy
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