Saturday 17 May 2014

Kinesin: Tiny Protein Motor Walks While You Rest

Kinesin. Image courtesy of Wikipedia (GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2).




Joel Kontinen


A kinesin is a tiny protein motor found in eukaryotic cells. It moves along a filament called a microtubule and carries cargo from the centre of the cell towards the edges.

Kinesins have two feet with which they literally walk, carrying enormous loads that they transport to the correct address.

The miniature machine has been described as the workhorse of the cell. Kinesins are proof of microengineering at its best.

Recently, Discovery Institute produced a video entitled The Workhorse of the Cell: Kinesin.