Cytoskeletal motor proteins are essential molecular machines that hydrolyze ATP to generate force and motion along cytoskeletal filaments. Members of the dynein and kinesin superfamilies play critical roles in transporting biological payloads (such as proteins, organelles, and vesicles) along microtubule pathways, cause the beating of flagella and cilia, and act within the mitotic and meiotic spindles to segregate replicated chromosomes to progeny cells. Not surprisingly, many diseases, including ciliopathies, neurodegeneration, and progressive paralysis, have been associated with motor dysfunction. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and behaviors of motor proteins is critical to provide better strategies for the treatment of motor protein-related diseases.

Many advanced techniques have been employed to determine the molecular mechanism and underlying functions of these motors: Cryo-electron microscopy reveals the 3D structural basis of these macromolecular machines at the highest resolution up to 3 Å; optical tweezers provide detailed dynamic structural changes associated with ATPase cycle; single-molecule fluorescence microscopy observes the translocation of individual motor proteins allowing the analysis of velocity and processivity.

The purpose of this collection is to improve the understanding of motor behaviors, shed light on the molecular effect of disease mutations, and provide novel strategies for motor bioengineering and applications.

This Research Topic welcomes Reviews, Mini Reviews, Original Research, Brief Research Reports, and Method Papers. Areas to be covered in this Research Topic include, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Intracellular trafficking and regulation of molecular motors
• Function and molecular mechanism study of microtubule-associated motors using state-of-the-art techniques
• Dynein and kinesin function study and disease research related to motor protein mutations
• Structural study of dynein, kinesin, and related cofactors
• Dynein and kinesin mechanics, engineering, and novel applications

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Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences

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