Experiment to Measure Force Generation by Membrane-Associated Myosin-1 (IMAGE)

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Experiment to Measure Force Generation by Membrane-Associated Myosin-1

Caption

To study the forces generated by myosin-1 motors on oily membranes, researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) strung a motor attached to an actin filament between two fluorescent beads, with the motor's tail resting on a sphere covered with lipids. The filament was moved side-to-side with the help of an optical trap. As the myosin-1 molecules stretched and slipped on the sphere, the researchers measured the forces applied to the sphere by the molecule.

Credit

Worcester Polytechnic Institute and University of Pennsylvania

Usage Restrictions

None

License

Licensed content

Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.