Axonal transport molecular motors

The life cycle of these organelles, their kinetics and molecular cargo, the molecular motors driving their transport and the substrates along which these movements track constitute interrelated aspects of what is broadly termed axonal transport. A primary aim of this chapter is to provide an understanding of this form of intraneuronal traffic. Achieving this goal requires an appreciation of the dynamics and structure of the relevant neuronal components and structures. Studies of how cellular structures and components move from where they are synthesized to where they are utilized comprise an... 

In neurons and non-neuronal cells, kinesin is associated with a variety of MBOs, ranging from synaptic vesicles to mitochondria to lysosomes. In addition to its role in fast axonal transport and related phenomena in non-neuronal cells, kinesin appears to be involved in constitutive cycling of membranes between the Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum. However, kinesin is not associated with all cellular membranes. For example, the nucleus, membranes of the Golgi complex and the plasma membrane all appear to lack kinesin. Kinesin interactions with membranes are thought to involve the light chains and carboxyl termini of heavy chains. However, neither this selectivity nor the molecular basis for binding of kinesin and other motors to membranes is well understood. 

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