Cargo velocity hauled by multiple motors in crowded environments

Kinesin motors transport cargo along microtubules in cells. While it is known that multiple kinesins help cargo move farther, the relationship between cargo velocity and motor number, especially in crowded cytoplasmic environments, is not well understood. In this study, we use a non-invasive method to quantify the number of motors and investigate how crowded environments affect cargo movement. We find that cargo velocity depends on both the number of attached motors and the size of crowding agents . Moreover, kinesin tension plays an important role in collective motion, supported by stochastic kinesin simulations. Our finding sheds light on the intriguing interplay between macromolecular crowding, kinesin tension, and kinesin-mediated cargo transport.