Research the Literature on your Own

1. What is a genetic disease caused by a mutation in a molecular motor protein? What is the exact defect and is it known how the disease is produced?

 

2. Why are the class V myosins similar to the kinesin motor shown in this lecture?

 

3. What evidence do scientists have to show that the two kinesin motor domains move in a hand-over-hand manner?

 

4. A myosin II (same class as muscle myosin) is present in most eukaryotic cells. What are its similarities/differences to muscle myosin and what does it do?

 

5. Research and present a “story” of how a molecular motor can be regulated (muscle myosin, conventional kinesin (Kinesin 1), myosin V, and Kinesin 3 (also called Unc104) might be good and somewhat different case studies).

 

6. What are the similarities and differences between motors (kinesin/myosin) and G proteins?