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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 10: Posters: Molecular Motors

BP 10.2: Poster

Dienstag, 1. April 2014, 09:30–12:30, P1

Synchronization of elastically coupled processive molecular motors and regulation of cargo transport — •Felix Kohler and Alexander Rohrbach — Universität Freiburg, Germany

In biological systems, many energetic processes are quantized by the hydrolysis of ATP-molecules enabling elementary reactions and conformation changes of proteins. In this way, molecular motors step discontinuously along cytoskeletal filaments to transport cargos such as vesicles or to translate filaments for cytoskeletal reorganization [1]. Most motors operate in groups and thereby enable a more efficient cargo transport [2]. A few studies have shown indications for a coordination between the motors and thus a coherent stepping of motors in vitro [3] and in vivo [4]. In order to analyze collective work of motor proteins by a theoretical approach, we introduce the synchronization q as a new observable for elastic coupling, which is identified with the probability to find a stochastic system in its ground state. The synchronization q can be read out from the ratio of the mean times of motor resting and stepping. For the motor proteins myosin V and kinesin I we show that the transport velocity and power can increase significantly for certain motor synchronizations or couplings.

[1] J. Howard, Mechanics of Motor Proteins and the Cytoskeleton

[2] F. Jülicher and J. Prost, prl 75 (1995)

[3] C. Leduc, F. Ruhnow, J. Howard, and S. Diez, pnas 104, (2007)

[4] X. Nan, P. A. Sims, P. Chen, and X. S. Xie, jpc B 109, (2005)