Molecular motors and brakes work together in cells

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Daughter microtubule (red) being formed on mother microtubule (red) within yeast cell (dashed line). Green represents the molecular motors the kinesin proteins klp2 of each microtubule. Credit: Phong Tran PhD University of Pennsylvania School of Medi ...
Daughter microtubule (red) being formed on mother microtubule (red), within yeast cell (dashed line). Green represents the molecular motors, the kinesin proteins klp2, of each microtubule. Credit: Phong Tran, PhD, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have discovered that microtubules -- components responsible for shape, movement, and replication within cells -- use proteins that act as molecular motors and brakes to organize into their correct structure. If microtubules are not formed properly such basic functions as cell division and transport can go wrong, which may have implications in such disease processes as cancer and dementia.


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