Overlapping hand-over-hand mechanism of single molecular motility of cytoplasmic dynein.
Structural differences between dynein and kinesin suggest a unique molecular mechanism of dynein motility. Measuring the mechanical properties of a single molecule of dynein is crucial for revealing the mechanisms underlying its movement. We measured the step size and force produced by single molecules of active cytoplasmic dynein by using an optical trap and fluorescence imaging with a high temporal resolution. The velocity of dynein movement, 800 nm/s, is consistent with that reported in cells. The maximum force of 7-8 pN was independent of the ATP concentration and similar to that of kinesin. Dynein exhibited forward and occasional backwards steps of approximately 8 nm, independent of load. It is suggested that the large dynein heads take 16-nm steps by using an overlapping hand-over-hand mechanism.
Department of Life Sciences, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, 3-8-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8902, Japan.
Shiori
S
Toba
Tomonobu M
TM
Watanabe
Lisa
L
Yamaguchi-Okimoto
Yoko Yano
YY
Toyoshima
Hideo
H
Higuchi
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000266:Adenylyl Imidodiphosphate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000201:enzymology*; D004398:Dyneins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016547:Kinesins / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008870:Microtubules / Q000201:enzymology; D013552:Swine
D000266:Adenylyl Imidodiphosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004398:Dyneins; D016547:Kinesins