title: Strain through the neck linker ensures processive runs: a DNA-kinesin hybrid nanomachine study.
abstract: The motor protein kinesin has two heads and walks along microtubules processively using energy derived from ATP. However, how kinesin heads are coordinated to generate processive movement remains elusive. Here we created a hybrid nanomachine (DNA-kinesin) using DNA as the skeletal structure and kinesin as the functional module. Single molecule imaging of DNA-kinesin hybrid allowed us to evaluate the effects of both connect position of the heads (N, C-terminal or Mid position) and sub-nanometer changes in the distance between the two heads on motility. Our results show that although the native structure of kinesin is not essential for processive movement, it is the most efficient. Furthermore, forward bias by the power stroke of the neck linker, a 13-amino-acid chain positioned at the C-terminus of the head, and internal strain applied to the rear of the head through the neck linker are crucial for the processive movement. Results also show that the internal strain coordinates both heads to prevent simultaneous detachment from the microtubules. Thus, the inter-head coordination through the neck linker facilitates long-distance walking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazono
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Karagiannis
authors.forename: Yoshie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Harada
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tadakuma
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D001665:Binding Sites; D003545:Cysteine / Q000737:chemistry; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D031541:Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D004247:DNA; D016547:Kinesins; D003545:Cysteine