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Coupling ATP hydrolysis to mechanical work

Nature Cell Biology volume 1, pages E87–E89 (1999)Cite this article

Abstract

Kinesin is a molecular motor that works as a cellular ‘porter’. Its job is to walk along microtubules, carrying membrane-bound bags of chemicals. To do this it must convert the chemical energy of ATP into mechanical work, and ATP hydrolysis may be very tightly coupled to the number and length of steps taken by kinesin.

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Figure 1: The mechanochemical cycle of kinesin may be coupled in different ways.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York, YO1 5YW, UK

    Alex E. Knight & Justin E. Molloy

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  1. Alex E. Knight
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  2. Justin E. Molloy
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Correspondence to Justin E. Molloy.

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Knight, A., Molloy, J. Coupling ATP hydrolysis to mechanical work. Nat Cell Biol 1, E87–E89 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/12083

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