'Enchanted broomstick' protein walks on two stubby legs to keep our nerve cells alive
Researchers at UC Davis have identified the structure of kinesin-1, a motor protein essential for transporting cargo within nerve cells. This discovery provides a clearer understanding of how these 'walking' proteins are regulated, potentially aiding in the development of treatments for neurodegenerative diseases.
Why it matters
Understanding the mechanics of kinesin-1 could lead to new therapeutic interventions for conditions like paralysis and cognitive deficits caused by nerve cell dysfunction.
edited by Gaby Clark , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add as preferred source Jawdat Al-Bassam (left), associate professor of molecular and cellular biology, and postdoctoral researcher Md Ashaduzzaman helped discover how cells control a crucial "walking protein." Credit: Joaquin Benitez / UC Davis A nerve cell resembles a vast tree with branches that communicate with thousands of other cells. To function, it depends on a motor protein that walks on two legs, hauling urgent cargo from the center of the cell to the faraway tips of every branch. Scientists have unveiled a new structure of this walking protein, showing how cells control it.
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