An improved optical tweezers assay for measuring the force generation of single kinesin molecules. 2014

Matthew P Nicholas, and Lu Rao, and Arne Gennerich
Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Gruss Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.

Numerous microtubule-associated molecular motors, including several kinesins and cytoplasmic dynein, produce opposing forces that regulate spindle and chromosome positioning during mitosis. The motility and force generation of these motors are therefore critical to normal cell division, and dysfunction of these processes may contribute to human disease. Optical tweezers provide a powerful method for studying the nanometer motility and piconewton force generation of single motor proteins in vitro. Using kinesin-1 as a prototype, we present a set of step-by-step, optimized protocols for expressing a kinesin construct (K560-GFP) in Escherichia coli, purifying it, and studying its force generation in an optical tweezers microscope. We also provide detailed instructions on proper alignment and calibration of an optical trapping microscope. These methods provide a foundation for a variety of similar experiments.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008856 Microscopy, Fluorescence Microscopy of specimens stained with fluorescent dye (usually fluorescein isothiocyanate) or of naturally fluorescent materials, which emit light when exposed to ultraviolet or blue light. Immunofluorescence microscopy utilizes antibodies that are labeled with fluorescent dye. Fluorescence Microscopy,Immunofluorescence Microscopy,Microscopy, Immunofluorescence,Fluorescence Microscopies,Immunofluorescence Microscopies,Microscopies, Fluorescence,Microscopies, Immunofluorescence
D008870 Microtubules Slender, cylindrical filaments found in the cytoskeleton of plant and animal cells. They are composed of the protein TUBULIN and are influenced by TUBULIN MODULATORS. Microtubule
D008941 Spindle Apparatus A microtubule structure that forms during CELL DIVISION. It consists of two SPINDLE POLES, and sets of MICROTUBULES that may include the astral microtubules, the polar microtubules, and the kinetochore microtubules. Mitotic Apparatus,Mitotic Spindle Apparatus,Spindle Apparatus, Mitotic,Meiotic Spindle,Meiotic Spindle Apparatus,Mitotic Spindle,Apparatus, Meiotic Spindle,Apparatus, Mitotic,Apparatus, Mitotic Spindle,Apparatus, Spindle,Meiotic Spindles,Mitotic Spindles,Spindle Apparatus, Meiotic,Spindle, Meiotic,Spindle, Mitotic,Spindles, Meiotic,Spindles, Mitotic
D002465 Cell Movement The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell. Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015870 Gene Expression The phenotypic manifestation of a gene or genes by the processes of GENETIC TRANSCRIPTION and GENETIC TRANSLATION. Expression, Gene,Expressions, Gene,Gene Expressions
D016547 Kinesins A family of microtubule-associated mechanical adenosine triphosphatases, that uses the energy of ATP hydrolysis to move organelles along microtubules including mitosis, meiosis, and axonal transport. Kinesin,Kinesin Heavy-Chain Protein,Kinesin Light-Chain Protein,Kinesin Light-Chain Proteins,Kinesin Superfamily,Heavy-Chain Protein, Kinesin,Light-Chain Protein, Kinesin,Light-Chain Proteins, Kinesin,Protein, Kinesin Heavy-Chain,Protein, Kinesin Light-Chain,Proteins, Kinesin Light-Chain,Superfamily, Kinesin
D052898 Optical Tweezers A technique that uses LASERS to trap, image, and manipulate small objects (biomolecules, supramolecular assembles, DENDRIMERS) in three dimensional space. (From Glossary of Biotechnology and Nanobiotechnology Terms, 4th ed.) Laser Tweezers,Optical Trap,Optical Trapping,Laser Tweezer,Optical Traps,Optical Tweezer,Trap, Optical,Trapping, Optical,Traps, Optical,Tweezer, Laser,Tweezer, Optical,Tweezers, Laser,Tweezers, Optical
D017930 Genes, Reporter Genes whose expression is easily detectable and therefore used to study promoter activity at many positions in a target genome. In recombinant DNA technology, these genes may be attached to a promoter region of interest. Reporter Genes,Gene, Reporter,Reporter Gene

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