Structure-Based Understanding of Diversity and Similarity of Cellular Motors

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This research was aimed at elucidating the characteristic functional properties of Motor proteins are involved in a variety of cellular processes such as cell locomotion, cell division, phagocytosis, endocytosis and vesicle transport. These motor proteins consist of three super-families ; myosin, kinesin and dynein. Although all of these proteins have the common function to change the chemical energy released by ATP hydrolysis to mechanical energy such as filament sliding and force, their in vitro and in vivo motor functions are surprisingly diverse. We have organized the reseairch project to understand the molecular mechanism of the diverse motor functions. To carry out the project, the following three research groups have been organized. (1) Searching for new motor proteins. (2) Dynamics of motor functions. (3) Single molecule imaging and manipulation. Besides these organized groups, individual researchers have been also recruited. To coordinate these researches, we have organized a meeting and a international conference each year. We have also devised various ways to enhance collaboration among the researchers in this project. This 4 year project has finally produced large number of important publications including many collaborative papers to which a number of members of this project have contributed.