Abstract:  Long-distance axonal transport is necessary for growth and proper function of neurons and defects in transport are linked to neurodegenerative diseases.  This bidirectional transport is carried by kinesin and dynein motor proteins that use the energy of ATP hydrolysis to move along microtubule tracks.  I will discuss our work using high-resolution single-molecule tracking and other approaches to understand the fundamental mechanisms by which cytoskeletal motors achieve and regulate bidirectional transport.  In recent work, we used DNA origami to connect pairs of antagonistic motors together and found that despite quite different biochemical tuning of different kinesin families, they are all able to generate compete against dynein motors in a tug-of-war.  I will also highlight recent progress and future plans for promoting and unifying the biophysics community at Penn State. 

Host:  Paul Cremer (865-6259)