Cooperative motor action to regulate microtubule length dynamics

A model of microtubule depolymerization by kinesin-8 motor proteins

The dimeric kinesin-8 motors have the biological function of depolymerizing microtubules (MTs) from the plus end. However, the molecular mechanism of the depolymerization promoted by the kinesin-8 motors is still undetermined. Here, a model is proposed for the MT depolymerization by the kinesin-8 motors. Based on the model, the dynamics of depolymerization in the presence of the single motor at the MT plus end under no load and under load on the motor is studied theoretically. The dynamics of depolymerization in the presence of multiple motors at the MT plus end is also analyzed. The theoretical results explain well the available experimental data. The studies can also be applicable to other families of kinesin motors such as kinesin-13 mitotic centromere-associated kinesin motors that have the ability to depolymerize MTs.

Molecular mechanism of interaction between kinesin motors affecting their residence times on microtubule lattice and end

Kinesin superfamily can be classified into 14 subfamilies. Some families of kinesin motors such as kinesin-1 are responsible for long-distance intracellular transports and thus the motors are required to reside on the microtubule (MT) lattice for a longer time than at the end. Some families such as kinesin-8 Kip3 and kinesin-5 Eg5 are responsible for the regulation of MT length by depolymerizing or polymerizing the MT from the plus end and thus the motors are required to reside at the MT end for a long time. Under the crowded condition of the motors, it was found experimentally that the residence times of the kinesin-8 Kip3 and kinesin-5 Eg5 at the MT end are reduced greatly compared to the single-motor case. However, the underlying mechanism of different families of kinesin motors having different MT-end residence times is unknown. The molecular mechanism by which the interaction between the two motors greatly reduces the residence time of the motor at the MT end is elusive. In addition, during the processive stepping on the MT lattice, when two kinesin motors meet it is unknown how the interaction between them affects their dissociation rates. To address the above unclear issues, here we make a consistent and theoretical study of the residence times of the kinesin-1, kinesin-8 Kip3 and kinesin-5 Eg5 motors on the MT lattice and at the end under both the single-motor condition and multiple-motors or crowded condition.

Asymmetric coupling induces two-directional reentrance transition in three-lane exclusion process

Inspired by vehicular traffic phenomena, we study a three-lane open totally asymmetric simple exclusion process with both-sided lane switching in the companionship of Langmuir kinetics. We calculate the phase diagrams, density profiles, and phase transitions through mean-field theory and successfully validate these findings with Monte Carlo simulation results. It has been found that both the qualitative and quantitative topology of phase diagrams crucially rely on the ratio of lane-switching rates called coupling strength. The proposed model has various unique mixed phases, including a double shock resulting in bulk-induced phase transitions. The interplay between both-sided coupling, third lane, and Langmuir kinetics produces unusual features, including a back-and-forth phase transition, also called a reentrance transition, in two directions for relatively nominal values of coupling strength. The presence of reentrance transition and peculiar phase boundaries leads to a rare type of phase division in which one phase lies entirely within another region. Moreover, we scrutinize the shock dynamics by analyzing four different types of shock and finite-size effects.

Role of extended coupling in bidirectional transport system

Motivated by vehicular traffic phenomena, we study a bidirectional two-lane open totally asymmetric simple exclusion process with extended symmetric coupling conditions in the presence of Langmuir kinetics. The phase diagrams and density profiles are calculated utilizing mean-field theory for different lane-changing rates and are found to be in a good match with Monte Carlo simulation results. It has been observed that the qualitative topology of phase diagrams depends on the lane-switching rate significantly, resulting in nonmonotonic variations in the number of steady-state phases. The proposed model provides various mixed phases leading to bulk induced phase transitions. The interplay between bidirectional movement, extended coupling conditions, and Langmuir kinetics produces unusual phenomena, including a back-and-forth phase transition and partial phase division of the shock region for comparatively smaller values of the lane-changing rate. Moreover, we analyze the shock dynamics and calculate critical values for the lane-changing rate at which the phases appear or disappear.