DNA, Kinesin, ATP and Parcel Delivery
Kinesin image modified from Wikipedia |
After having showcased some rather technical articles lately, this one was a nice change. The information is a bit technical at times, but presented with an analogy that is easily understood.
Kinesin molecules are motor proteins found inside living things. Known as the ‘workhorse of the cell’, they haul vital cargo along roadways in cells called microtubules. Steven Block (professor of applied physics and of biological sciences at Stanford University) has described kinesin this way; "Kinesin functions like a locomotive in cells to ferry cargo back and forth.”
Read the rest of this fascinating article, "Incredible Kinesin! Biological ‘robots’ will blow your mind!", here.A typical kinesin molecule is a mere 70 billionths of a metre (three-millionths of an inch) long and has an amazing likeness to a person! A typical kinesin has two ‘arms’ on one end (that hold onto the cargo) and two ‘legs’ on the other end that walk along the microtubule, pulling the cargo toward its final destination. In a sense they are like the ‘postman’ delivering mail inside cells.