Effects of Motor Mobility in Cargo Transport.

Long-range intracellular transport is mediated by motor proteins, kinesin and dynein, transporting cargos along a complex microtubule network. Here, we investigate the effects of network complexity and cargo surface properties on a cargos ability to get across a network. We compare single kinesin motor transport ability to these cargos: small cargos (quantum dots) with rigid motor attachments, large cargos (beads) with rigid motor attachments, and large cargos (emulsion droplets) with fluid motor attachments. The network complexity is altered from single microtubules, to microtubule intersections and random networks of filaments. These studies will help us understand how motors can intrinsically navigate complex networks of filamentsin live cells.