Differential regulation of dynein and kinesin motor proteins by tau

Ram Dixit, Jennifer L. Ross, Yale E. Goldman, Erika L.F. Holzbaur

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

805 Scopus citations

Abstract

Dynein and kinesin motor proteins transport cellular cargoes toward opposite ends of microtubule tracks. In neurons, microtubules are abundantly decorated with microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) such as tau. Motor proteins thus encounter MAPs frequently along their path. To determine the effects of tau on dynein and kinesin motility, we conducted single-molecule studies of motor proteins moving along tau-decorated microtubules. Dynein tended to reverse direction, whereas kinesin tended to detach at patches of bound tau. Kinesin was inhibited at about a tenth of the tau concentration that inhibited dynein, and the microtubule-binding domain of tau was sufficient to inhibit motor activity. The differential modulation of dynein and kinesin motility suggests that MAPs can spatially regulate the balance of microtubule-dependent axonal transport.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1086-1089
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume319
Issue number5866
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 22 2008
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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