Tuning Multiple Motor Travel Via Single Motor Velocity

TL;DR

This study reveals that single-motor velocity significantly influences cargo transport in cells, showing that higher velocities can negatively impact the travel distance of cargos driven by multiple motors, which was previously underappreciated.

Contribution

The paper experimentally demonstrates the role of single-motor velocity in regulating multi-motor cargo transport, expanding understanding beyond previously known factors like travel distance and binding rate.

Findings

Strong negative correlation between motor velocity and cargo travel distance.

Velocity plays a significant role in multi-motor transport regulation.

Experimental validation of theoretical predictions.

Abstract

Microtubule-based molecular motors often work in small groups to transport cargos in cells. A key question in understanding transport (and its regulation in vivo) is to identify the sensitivity of multiple-motor-based motion to various single molecule properties. Whereas both single-motor travel distance and microtubule binding rate have been demonstrated to contribute to cargo travel, the role of single-motor velocity is yet to be explored. Here, we recast a previous theoretical study, and make explicit a potential contribution of velocity to cargo travel. We test this possibility experimentally, and demonstrate a strong negative correlation between single-motor velocity and cargo travel for transport driven by two motors. Our study thus discovers a previously unappreciated role of single-motor velocity in regulating multiple-motor transport.