Unidirectional motion of microtubules and microspheres by Dynein motor protein

This paper reports a nanotransport system with the directional movement control. The system consists of motor proteins, dynein and kinesin, and their tracks, microtubules. Dynein molecules are specifically immobilized on a microchannel glass surface and fluorescently labeled microtubules were transported by dynein motion. Moving directions of gliding microtubules were controlled by a pressure-driven flow through the microchannel, and their polarities were oriented in the designated direction. We have also examined their polarities by the unidirectional transport of kinesin-coated microspheres. Orientation ratios of microtubules were evaluated as 90.9 % and 78.8 % by moving microtubules and microspheres, respectively. Integrating dynein and kinesin provides a possibility to compose a two-dimensional nanotransport system.