Neck linker docking is critical for Kinesin-1 force generation in cells but at a cost to motor speed and processivity
- University of Michigan, United States
- Vanderbilt University, United States
- University of California, San Diego, United States
Abstract
Kinesin force generation involves ATP-induced docking of the neck linker (NL) along the motor core. However, the roles of the proposed steps of NL docking, cover-neck bundle (CNB) and asparagine latch (N-latch) formation, during force generation are unclear. Furthermore, the necessity of NL docking for transport of membrane-bound cargo in cells has not been tested. We generated kinesin-1 motors impaired in CNB and/or N-latch formation based on molecular dynamics simulations. The mutant motors displayed reduced force output and inability to stall in optical trap assays but exhibited increased speeds, run lengths, and landing rates under unloaded conditions. NL docking thus enhances force production but at a cost to speed and processivity. In cells, teams of mutant motors were hindered in their ability to drive transport of Golgi elements (high-load cargo) but not peroxisomes (low-load cargo). These results demonstrate that the NL serves as a mechanical element for kinesin-1 transport under physiological conditions.
Data availability
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in the manuscript and supporting files.
Article and author information
Author details
Kristin I Schimert
Funding
National Institutes of Health (R01GM070862)
- Barry J Grant
National Science Foundation (1330792)
- Matthew J Lang
Qatar Leadership Program (R35 GM130293)
- Shashank Jariwala
National Science Foundation (1256260)
- Breane G Budaitis
National Science Foundation (1445197)
- Dana N Reinemann
National Institutes of Health (T32GM007315)
- Breane G Budaitis
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and interpretation, or the decision to submit the work for publication.
Copyright
© 2019, Budaitis et al.
This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License permitting unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.
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Neck linker docking is critical for Kinesin-1 force generation in cells but at a cost to motor speed and processivity
eLife 8:e44146.
https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.44146
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