Regulation of biomolecular-motor-driven cargo transport by microtubules under mechanical stress
Authors: Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin, Tanjina Afrin, Arif Md. Rashedul Kabir, Daisuke Inoue, Takayuki Torisawa, Kazuhiro Oiwa, Kazuki Sada, Akira Kakugo
Summary:
Mechanical stress on cells has profound influences on biological processes, such as cell shape regulation, the formation of tissue patterns, and development. Recently, mechanosensing properties of the microtubule, an important cytoskeletal component, have drawn attention. In this work, we studied cargo transport by dynein, a microtubule-associated motor protein, along microtubules deformed under mechanical stress. We reveal that the microtubule deformation took place as a response to the applied stress and that the deformation of microtubules facilitated the transport of dynein-driven quantum dots. This finding will provide opportunities to explore the role of microtubules as molecular mechanotransducers in cellular processes.
Source: ACS Applied BioMaterials, 2020
Summary:
Mechanical stress on cells has profound influences on biological processes, such as cell shape regulation, the formation of tissue patterns, and development. Recently, mechanosensing properties of the microtubule, an important cytoskeletal component, have drawn attention. In this work, we studied cargo transport by dynein, a microtubule-associated motor protein, along microtubules deformed under mechanical stress. We reveal that the microtubule deformation took place as a response to the applied stress and that the deformation of microtubules facilitated the transport of dynein-driven quantum dots. This finding will provide opportunities to explore the role of microtubules as molecular mechanotransducers in cellular processes.
Source: ACS Applied BioMaterials, 2020