驱动蛋白单向运动机理

驱动蛋白马达在实验和理论上已被进行了广泛的研究. 然而, 其行进运动的微观机理仍未确定. 在本文中我们基于化学、力学和电学耦合提出了一个交臂模型来描述这种行进运动. 在该模型中，驱动蛋白两个头的ATP水解化学反应速率由作用在其颈上的力（包括内部弹性力和外部负荷）来调控. 在低外部负荷情况下, 驱动蛋白的后头的ATP水解化学反应速率远大于前头的速率, 因而两个头在ATP水解化学反应和力学周期循环中是协调的且马达以每步消耗一个ATP的方式的行走. 在大的前向负荷情况下, 两个头的ATP水解化学反应速率变得可比拟, 因而两个头在ATP水解化学反应和力学周期循环中不再很好地协调. 该模型与驱动蛋白的结构研究结果以及ATP水解化学反应路径一致. 利用此模型所估算的驱动力（约5.8 pN）与实验结果（5~7.5 pN）一致. 所估算的每步中的运动时间（约10）也与实验测量值（0~50）符合. 解释了已观察到的每步（8nm）分为两个半步的现象. 所得到的运动速度-负荷曲线与已有的实验结果一致.

Mechanism for unidirectional movement of kinesin

Kinesin motors have been studied extensively both experimentally and theoretically. However, the microscopic mechanism of the processive movement of kinesin is still an open question. In this paper, we propose a hand-over-hand model for the processivity of kinesin, which is based on chemical, mechanical, and electrical couplings. In the model the ATPase rates of the two kinesin heads are regulated by forces, both from internal elasticity and external load, exerted on their necks. At a low external load, the ATPase rate of the trailing head is much higher than the leading head and the two heads are coordinated in their ATP hydrolysis and mechanical cycles. The motor walks processively with one ATP being hydrolyzed per step. At a higher forward external load, the ATPase rates of the two heads become comparable and thus the two heads are no longer well coordinated in their ATP hydrolysis and mechanical cycles. The model is consistent with the structural study of kinesin and the measured pathway of the kinesin ATPase. Using the model we have estimated the driving force to be $\sim$5.8pN, which is in agreement with the experimental results (5--7.5pN). The estimated time for moving one step ($\sim$10$\mu$s) is also consistent with the measured values of 0--50$\mu$s. The previous observation of substeps within the 8nm step is explained. The shapes of velocity versus load (both positive and negative) curves show close resemblance to previous experimental results.