The mechanics of force generation by kinesin

Several laboratories have developed highly sensitive mechanical techniques for studying the movement of purified motor proteins along their associated filaments. The aim of these experiments is to test models for force generation, such as the powerstroke model and 'ratchet' or diffusional models, by 1) directly visualizing the path on the filament along which the motor moves, 2) measuring the force exerted by the motor against the filament, and 3) characterizing the passive mechanical properties (elasticity) of the motor. This paper focuses on recently published work on the microtubule-based motor kinesin taking this mechanical approach. Related work on myosin is mentioned for comparison.