Counting motors by force.

St Johnston, Daniel · Cell · 2008

basic_science · Level V

Where this comes from

Abstract

Properties of the microtubule motor protein kinesin-1 have been well characterized in vitro but not in the viscous environment of a cell. By measuring the force that kinesin-1 exerts on lipid droplets in fly embryos, Shubeita et al. (2008) determine the number of active motors per droplet and find unexpected differences between motor regulation in vivo and in vitro.

Medical subject headings