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Characterization of Kinesin-3 and Kinesin-3 cargo in transit within the
axon
(2008 - Present)
Investigator:
Joseph DeGiorgis,
Providence
College
Mentor: Thomas
Reese, National Institute of Health
Abstract: Axonal transport is a process in which membrane
bound particles are in transit along microtubules powered by motor
proteins belonging to the kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein superfamilies.
Recently we identified a Kinesin-3 (KIF1A) that co-purifies with
axoplasmic organelles and localizes to organelle/microtubule interfaces.
Antibodies raised against Kinesin-3 decorate 100 nm organelles in
extruded axoplasm and inhibit organelle transport towards the plus ends
of microtubules. These finding suggest that Kinesin-3 may be responsible
for moving 100 nm organelles towards the plus ends of microtubules.
Here, we propose to characterize the motor properties of purified
Kinesin-3 and to identify the molecular anatomy of the Kinesin-3 cargo.
Understanding the rate and direction of Kinesin-3 movement and the
molecular composition of its cargo will help establish Kinesin-3’s role
in the axon and determine it’s contribution to motor mediated transport.
Publications
2008
- 2009
Berberian, G., Bollo, M.,
Montich, G., Roberts, G., DeGiorgis, J.A., DiPolo, R., Beauge, L.
2009. A novel lipid binding protein is a factor required for MgATP
stimulation of the squid nerve sodium/calcium exchanger. Biochim. Biophys.
Acta, Epub 2009 Jan 8. |
