Spatial Relationships Matter: Kinesin-1 Molecular Motors Transport Liposome Cargo Through 3D Microtubule Intersections In Vitro .
Brandon M BenselSamantha Beck PrevisCarol BookwalterKathleen M TrybusSam WalcottDavid M WarshawPublished in: bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology (2023)
model transport system, which challenges kinesin-1 motor teams to maneuver vesicle-like liposomes through MT-MT intersections. Surprisingly, liposomes are biased to pass straight through 3D MT intersections rather than turn, even when the MT intersection presents as a physical barrier. A mechanistic model informs this observation, suggesting that spatial relationships between the cargo and MT intersection influence how molecular motors maneuver intracellular cargoes towards their destination to satisfy cellular demands.