Biomod/2011/Columbia/MotorProTeam:Background Information

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Our research focuses on applying kinesin motor proteins and microtubules to initiate transport of cargo on a sub-cellular scale. We aim to create a structure that uses multiple microtubules as a foundation for a molecular transport system.

Microtubules are polymers of α and β tubulin heterodimers, which under proper conditions polymerize into microtubules. Microtubules are approximately 25 nm in diameter and have lengths ranging from 2 to 20 μm. Microtubule ends are said to be polarized, depending on whether the terminal subunit is an α or β tubulin monomer (with the end exposing the β subunit known as the plus end). Cells use microtubules to add rigidity, in addition to use as scaffolding during cell division.

Kinesin is a type of motor protein that can walk along microtubules. Kinesin is composed of two tightly intertwined tail domains that terminate in two motor domain "heads". Using one molecule of adenosine triphosphate per step, they "walk" towards the positive end of a microtubule.

Kinesin and dynein on a microtubule (Hess, Bachand, and Vogel, 2004)

An example of microtubule motility on two kinesin motor proteins. Microtubule length not to scale.

An example of microtubule motility on a kinesin coated surface. Microtubule length not to scale.

An artistic representation of the team's proposed transport structure.

The current method of cargo transport using motor proteins only utilizes the strength of one microtubule. We intend to build a structure that resembles the figure above in order to improve the method of nano and micro-scale transport.

Soft lithography was used to pattern silicone wafers. A polymer would be used to fill the pattern, and they would be the base of the structure. Photolithography entails using a UV light source to replicate a mask's pattern on a silicone wafer.