Traffic of molecular motors: from theory to experiments

2007/10/06 by Paolo Pierobon, Pierobon, Paolo
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · #Biological Physics (physics.bio-ph) #Biomolecules (q-bio.BM) #FOS: Biological sciences #FOS: Physical sciences #physics.bio-ph #q-bio.BM

paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.0710.1384

Based on the oral contribution given at the Traffic and Granular Flow conference 2007 (Paris)

arxiv created 2007/10/06 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01

Abstract

Intracellular transport along microtubules or actin filaments, powered by molecular motors such as kinesins, dyneins or myosins, has been recently modeled using one-dimensional driven lattice gases. We discuss some generalizations of these models, that include extended particles and defects. We investigate the feasibility of single molecule experiments aiming to measure the average motor density and to locate the position of traffic jams by mean of a tracer particle. Finally, we comment on preliminary single molecule experiments performed in living cells.

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