Investigation of multiple-dynein transport of melanosomes by non-invasive force measurement using fluctuation unit χ

Sci Rep. 2019 Mar 25;9(1):5099. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-41458-w.

Abstract

Pigment organelles known as melanosomes disperse or aggregate in a melanophore in response to hormones. These movements are mediated by the microtubule motors kinesin-2 and cytoplasmic dynein. However, the force generation mechanism of dynein, unlike that of kinesin, is not well understood. In this study, to address this issue, we investigated the dynein-mediated aggregation of melanosomes in zebrafish melanophores. We applied the fluctuation theorem of non-equilibrium statistical mechanics to estimate forces acting on melanosomes during transport by dynein, given that the energy of a system is related to its fluctuation. Our results demonstrate that multiple force-producing units cooperatively transport a single melanosome. Since the force is generated by dynein, this suggests that multiple dyneins carry a single melanosome. Cooperative transport has been reported for other organelles; thus, multiple-motor transport may be a universal mechanism for moving organelles within the cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Drosophila
  • Dyneins / metabolism*
  • Kinesins / metabolism
  • Melanophores / drug effects
  • Melanophores / metabolism
  • Melanosomes / drug effects
  • Melanosomes / metabolism*
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Organelles / drug effects
  • Organelles / metabolism
  • Quinazolinones / pharmacology
  • Zebrafish

Substances

  • Quinazolinones
  • ciliobrevin D
  • Dyneins
  • Kinesins