A U.S.-led international team of researchers has shed new light
on how tiny molecular motors that transport materials within
cells generate energy. The scientists say their findings might
lead to better understanding of, and possibly new treatments
for, human disorders caused by faulty molecular motors.
Biologists had previously been unable to capture images of the
structural changes that a molecular motor undergoes as it breaks
down adenosine triphosphate, the source of energy in all cells.
"In order to visualize the actual structure of the motor
molecule bound to a microtubule, we combined the images
generated by high-resolution electron microscopy," said study
investigator Sharyn Endow, a Duke University cell biologist. "We
were able to see for the first time the actual point at which
the molecular motors attach to the microtubule," said Endow. "It
is at this juncture that the motor undergoes changes in its
structure as it uses ATP to propel itself along the
microtubule." The researchers also included scie