Also: kinesin, myosin, ATP synthase, F1-ATPase, cytoskeleton, microtubules, actin
Cells move cargo and change shape using protein motors that walk along a scaffold of filaments, the cytoskeleton. ATP synthase is a rotary motor that makes the cell's energy currency.
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Fletcher and Mullins reviewed how the cytoskeleton, a network of protein filaments, lets cells resist deformation, move cargo and change shape, and how forces acting through it affect cell behaviour.
As reported in: Fletcher, Mullins (2010). Cell mechanics and the cytoskeleton. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature08908
Vale, Reese and Sheetz identified kinesin, a new force-generating protein involved in movement along microtubules.
As reported in: VALE, REESE, SHEETZ (1985). Identification of a novel force-generating protein, kinesin, involved in microtubule-based motility. Cell. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(85)80099-4
Svoboda and colleagues used optical trapping interferometry to directly observe single kinesin molecules stepping along microtubules.
As reported in: Svoboda, Schmidt, Schnapp et al. (1993). Direct observation of kinesin stepping by optical trapping interferometry. Nature. doi:10.1038/365721a0
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Finer, Simmons and Spudich measured single myosin molecules producing piconewton forces in nanometre steps.
As reported in: Finer, Simmons, Spudich (1994). Single myosin molecule mechanics: piconewton forces and nanometre steps. Nature. doi:10.1038/368113a0
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Noji and colleagues directly observed the rotation of F1-ATPase, part of ATP synthase, showing it is a rotary molecular motor.
As reported in: Noji, Yasuda, Yoshida et al. (1997). Direct observation of the rotation of F1-ATPase. Nature. doi:10.1038/386299a0
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