title: Stochastic simulations of cargo transport by processive molecular motors.
abstract: We use stochastic computer simulations to study the transport of a spherical cargo particle along a microtubule-like track on a planar substrate by several kinesin-like processive motors. Our newly developed adhesive motor dynamics algorithm combines the numerical integration of a Langevin equation for the motion of a sphere with kinetic rules for the molecular motors. The Langevin part includes diffusive motion, the action of the pulling motors, and hydrodynamic interactions between sphere and wall. The kinetic rules for the motors include binding to and unbinding from the filament as well as active motor steps. We find that the simulated mean transport length increases exponentially with the number of bound motors, in good agreement with earlier results. The number of motors in binding range to the motor track fluctuates in time with a Poissonian distribution, both for springs and cables being used as models for the linker mechanics. Cooperativity in the sense of equal load sharing only occurs for high values for viscosity and attachment time.
authors.affiliation: University of Heidelberg, Bioquant 0013, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Christian B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Korn
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Klumpp
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lipowsky
authors.forename: Ulrich S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Schwarz
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003198:Computer Simulation; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009068:Movement; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins