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A major question in cell biology is how the organization of the
cell is maintained both spatially and temporally. Proper functioning
of eukaryotic cells depends on the correct localization of lipids,
proteins, signaling complexes and organelles. While this is true
in all cells, it is crucial in polarized calls such as epithelia
and neurons as well as during development. Cargo molecules are moved
from place to place within the cell along the main cytoskeletal
filaments, actin and microtubules. Motor proteins use the energy
of ATP hydrolysis to ferry cargo along actin or microtubule tracks
and thus orchestrate diverse cellular events such as organelle and
vesicle transport, signal transduction, RNA localization, cell motility,
chromosome segregation and cytokinesis.
The overall goal of the lab is to determine how motor proteins
are directed to their vesicular cargo for transport to the correct
location in the cell. Our work has focused on the microtubule-based
motor protein conventional kinesin. We aim to answer questions such
as: What is the cargo(es) of kinesin? What are the cellular roles
of kinesin and its cargo(es) during development and normal cell
growth? How does kinesin bind to its cargo in the cell body and
release its cargo in the axon terminal? How is the motor activated
for motility upon loading of cargo and inactivated when it reaches
its destination? Is the motor recycled or degraded at the end of
its journey? To address these questions, we are using a variety
of techniques in molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology,
cell culture and microscopy.
Relevant Publications:
- Cai D, Verhey KJ, Meyhofer E. 2007. Tracking Single Kinesin Molecules in the Cytoplasm of Mammalian Cells. Biophysical Journal. In Press.
- Cai D, Hoppe AD, Swanson JA, Verhey KJ. 2007. Kinesin-1 structural organization and conformational changes revealed by FRET stoichiometry in live cells. J Cell Biol. 176(1):51-63.
- Blasius TL, Cai D, Jih GT, Toret CP, Verhey KJ. 2007. Two binding partners cooperate to activate the molecular motor Kinesin-1. J Cell Biol. 176(1):11-7.
- Reed NA, Cai D, Blasius TL, Jih GT, Meyhofer E, Gaertig J, Verhey KJ. 2006. Microtubule acetylation promotes kinesin-1 binding and transport. Curr Biol. 16(21):2166-72.
- Jenkins PM, Hurd TW, Zhang L, McEwen DP, Brown RL, Margolis B, Verhey KJ, Martens JR. 2006. Ciliary targeting of olfactory CNG channels requires the CNGB1b subunit and the kinesin-2 motor protein, KIF17. Curr Biol. 16(12):1211-6.
- Verhey KJ, Rapoport TA. 2001. Kinesin carries the signal. Trends Biochem Sci. 26(9):545-50.
- Verhey KJ, Meyer D, Deehan R, Blenis J, Schnapp BJ, Rapoport TA, Margolis B. Cargo of kinesin identified as JIP scaffolding proteins and associated signaling molecules. 2001. J Cell Biol. 152(5):959-70.
- Verhey KJ, Lizotte DL, Abramson T, Barenboim L, Schnapp BJ, Rapoport TA. 1998. Light chain-dependent regulregulation of Kinesin's interaction with microtubules. J Cell Biol. 143(4):1053-66.
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