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Introduction
Kinesins are a class of motor proteins found in eukaryotic cells which are capable of converting chemical energy to mechanical work by hydrolyzing ATP. These motor proteins are essential in transporting molecules that are incapable of reaching their proper destinations by passive methods (e.g. diffusion) but require more active methods of transport like the use of molecular motors. Kinesins are composed of a motor domain, which binds ATP at the and hydrolyzes it to ADP converting that chemical energy into motion, and a cargo-binding domain which holds the species being transported. A long flexible stem connects the cargo-binding domain to the motor domain. Most Kinesins transport large cargo like lysosomes from the nucleus to the cell membrane using the array of microtubles found in the cell in a method known as anterograde transport. Motor proteins that carry molecules from the membrane of the cell to the center are called Dyneins
Structure
Kinesin is a dimer composed of two identical subunits. Each subunit is comprised of two domains. At the amino terminal end is the motor domain which is responsible for motility and at the carboxy terminal end is the cargo-binding domain which is responsible for the attachment of cargo for transport. These two domains are connected by two alpha helical coiled coils called the stalk . The stalks of the two motor domains intertwine to direct dimerization of the two motor domains. Dimerization of the coiled coils are stabilized by the repeating pattern of both the hydrophobic and the charged regions of the amino acids, known as a heptad repeat.The motor domain is comprised of approximately 320 highly conserved amino acids and each of its identical subunits consists of an extended between .
Mechanism of Action
Each motor domain head contains an active site (where ATP binds) and a binding site for the microtuble binding. The ATP binding site binds ATP and very quickly hydrolyzes the high energy phosphate bond to produce ADP. The protein structure shown here has bound rather than ATP. There are two proposed mechanisms of movement for the kinesin protein, hand over hand and inchworm. In the hand over hand mechanism, each motor domain head alternates leading and trailing roles with each step. In this mechanism when ATP binds one head, the phosphate bond is quickly hydrolyzed to ADP-Pi providing enough energy for that head to tilt forward and the same happens to the other head in a sequential manner resembling a "walking" motion. In the inch worm mechanism, only one head tilts forward and the other catches up to it thus resembling an inchworm. Of the two proposed methods of movement, the hand over hand mechanism, shown below, more widely accepted.
References
1. "Kinesin." Interactive Concepts in Biochemistry. Web. 1 May 2012. <http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0471661791/structure/kinesin/kinesin.htm>.
2. Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al. Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition. New York: W. H. Freeman; 2000. Kinesin, Dynein, and Intracellular Transport.
3. Goodsell, David. "Kinesin." RCSB PDB-101. Web. 01 May 2012. <http://www.rcsb.org/pdb/101/motm.do?momID=64>.
4. Kinesin Moves by an Asymmetric Hand-Over-Hand Mechanism
Charles L. Asbury, Adrian N. Fehr, and Steven M. Block
Science 19 December 2003: 2130-2134.Published online 4 December 2003 [DOI:10.1126/science.1092985]
