Keywords
Molecular motors, Intracellular transport, Intermediate filaments
Abstract
Intermediate filaments are long elastic fibres that are transported by microtubule-associated motor proteins kinesin and dynein inside the cell. How elastic filaments are efficiently transported by antagonistic motors is not well understood and difficult to measure with current experimental techniques. Adapting the tug-of-war paradigm for vesicle-like cargos, we develop a mathematical model to describe the motion of an elastic filament punctually bound to antagonistic motors. As observed in cells, up to 3 modes of transport are obtained; dynein-driven retrograde, kinesin-driven anterograde fast motions and a slow motion. Motor properties and initial conditions that depend on intracellular context, regulate the transport of filaments. Filaments elasticity is found to affect both the mode and the efficiency of transport. We further show that the coordination of motors along the filament emerges from the interplay between intracellular context and elastic properties of filaments.
Original Publication Citation
Physical Review E
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Portet, Stephanie; Leduc, Cecil; Etienne-Manneville, Sandrine; and Dallon, J. C., "Deciphering the transport of elastic filaments by antagonistic motor proteins" (2019). Faculty Publications. 3687.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/3687
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2019-4
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/6497
Language
English
College
Physical and Mathematical Sciences
Department
Mathematics