title: Effects of surface passivation on gliding motility assays.
abstract: In this study, we report differences in the observed gliding speed of microtubules dependent on the choice of bovine casein used as a surface passivator. We observed differences in both speed and support of microtubules in each of the assays. Whole casein, comprised of α(s1), α(s2), β, and κ casein, supported motility and averaged speeds of 966±7 nm/s. Alpha casein can be purchased as a combination of α(s1) and α(s2) and supported gliding motility and average speeds of 949±4 nm/s. Beta casein did not support motility very well and averaged speeds of 870±30 nm/s. Kappa casein supported motility very poorly and we were unable to obtain an average speed. Finally, we observed that mixing alpha, beta, and kappa casein with the proportions found in bovine whole casein supported motility and averaged speeds of 966±6 nm/s.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for High Technology Materials, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States of America. amaloney@unm.edu
authors.forename: Andy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: Lawrence J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Herskowitz
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002364:Caseins / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009068:Movement; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D002364:Caseins; D016547:Kinesins