Abstracts » Zoology and wildlife conservation

A bipolar kinesin

Article Abstract:

Chromosome segregation in mitosis depends on the mitotic spindle, a bipolar protein machine that uses microtubules (MTs) and their motors. Members of the BimC subfamily that are of MT-motor proteins are vital for the formation and functioning of a normal bipolar spindle. KRP (sub 130), a homotetrameric BimC-related kinesin from the embryos of Drosophila melanogaster, possesses a unique ultrastructure that is composed of four kinesin-related polypeptides assembled into a bipolar aggregate with motor domains at both ends. This structure can crosslink and slide spindle MTs.

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An essential bipolar mitotic motor

Article Abstract:

The essential mitotic bimC-related KLP61F gene of Drosophila melanogaster encodes the bipolar kinesin, KRP(sub 130), that is involved in mitotic spindle separation. KRP(sub 130) is a homotetrameric complex of four motor subunits each with a relative molecular mass of 130,000 accumulated in a bipolar minifilament. The bipolar bimC motors are responsible for crosslinking and separating antiparallel microtubules. This leads to the separation of duplicated spindle poles and the accumulation of the bipolar spindle.

Analysis, Drosophila, Spindle (Cell division), Spindle (Cytoplasm)

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Coupling of kinesin steps to ATP hydrolysis

Article Abstract:

Light microscopy instrumentation with low positional drift was used to observe kinesin derived single molecules, allowing objective distribution measurement. A statistics-based method was used to analyse the distribution and the data supported a fundamental enzymatic cycle for kinesin where a single ATP molecule has a step distance spacing of 8.12 nm.

Usage, Physiological aspects, Adenosine triphosphate, ATP, Hydrolysis, Video microscopy

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