From owner-biophysics@net.bio.net Tue Mar 01 22:00:00 1994
Path: biosci!bcm!cs.utexas.edu!not-for-mail
From: FNCSM@acad3.alaska.edu
Newsgroups: bionet.biophysics
Subject: A mechanism for intracellular transport
Date: 1 Mar 1994 21:54:11 -0600
Organization: UTexas Mail-to-News Gateway
Lines: 24
Sender: daemon@cs.utexas.edu
Message-ID: <01H9GU3G0OAU8WZPMB@mr.alaska.edu>
NNTP-Posting-Host: cs.utexas.edu

Try this:
     Motor proteins grasp microtubules at on end and cargo at the other.
     Electro-potential variations in the microtubules present a saw tooth
            rail to the protein allowing it to slide more easily in only one direction.
     Brownian motion on the cargo acts through the motor protein allowing
            the attachment to periodically ratchet a "tooth" on the tubule.
     Rebound forces are resisted by the electro static well.
     The net result is apparently energy free transport.
>
This is easily testable in that there should be a narrow allowable size band
for the cargo. On the other hand, there might be "tug" vacuoles who's sole purpose
is to provide and optimal size sphere for the propulsion of motor proteins and attached
clandestine cargo.
>
If true this model could predict the scale factor on all sub cellular organization.
If false there is little harm done.
>
I would appreciate any reaction you would care to offer to this proposition.
>
Sincerely,
Clifton Moore
fncsm@acad3.alaska.edu



.