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Kinesins and Dyneins definitions

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  • Kinesin
    A motor protein that transports cargo toward the plus end of microtubules, moving materials away from the nucleus toward the plasma membrane.
  • Dynein
    A motor protein responsible for moving cargo toward the minus end of microtubules, directing materials toward the cell nucleus.
  • Microtubule
    A cytoskeletal filament serving as a track for directional movement of motor proteins within the cell.
  • Motor Protein
    A protein that uses ATP hydrolysis to generate force and transport cellular cargo along cytoskeletal filaments.
  • ATP Hydrolysis
    A chemical reaction providing energy for motor proteins to move by converting ATP to ADP.
  • Dimeric Structure
    A molecular arrangement consisting of two subunits, often forming the functional unit of motor proteins.
  • Cargo
    Any molecule or organelle transported by motor proteins along microtubules within the cell.
  • Plus End
    The growing end of a microtubule, typically oriented toward the cell periphery and targeted by kinesins.
  • Minus End
    The anchored end of a microtubule, usually located near the cell nucleus and approached by dyneins.
  • Processive Movement
    A type of motion where a motor protein travels long distances along a microtubule without detaching.
  • Tail Domain
    The region of a motor protein that binds to and carries cellular cargo during transport.
  • Head Domain
    The region of a motor protein that attaches to microtubules and catalyzes ATP hydrolysis for movement.
  • Dynactin
    A protein complex that interacts with dynein to enhance its attachment and cargo-carrying efficiency.
  • Kinesin-1
    The most prominent member of its protein family, specialized for transporting cargo toward the cell periphery.
  • Brownian Movement
    Random thermal motion of particles, distinct from the directed transport performed by motor proteins.