Issue 24, 2009

Kinesin’s backsteps under mechanical load

Abstract

Kinesins move processively toward the plus end of microtubules by hydrolyzing ATP for each step. From an enzymatic perspective, the mechanism of mechanical motion coupled to the nucleotide chemistry is often well explained using a single-loop cyclic reaction. However, several difficulties arise in interpreting kinesin’s backstepping within this framework, especially when external forces oppose the motion of kinesin. We review evidence, such as an ATP-independent stall force and a slower cycle time for backsteps, that has emerged to challenge the idea that kinesin backstepping is due to ATP synthesis, i.e., the reverse cycle of kinesin’s forward-stepping chemomechanics. Supplementing the conventional single-loop chemomechanics with routes for ATP-hydrolyzing backward steps and nucleotide-free steps, especially under load, gives a better physical interpretation of the experimental data on backsteps.

Graphical abstract: Kinesin’s backsteps under mechanical load

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Feb 2009
Accepted
16 Apr 2009
First published
18 May 2009

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009,11, 4899-4910

Kinesin’s backsteps under mechanical load

C. Hyeon, S. Klumpp and J. N. Onuchic, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2009, 11, 4899 DOI: 10.1039/B903536B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements