# Mechanism of Microtubule Dynamics Regulation by Kinesins

> **NIH NIH R01** · ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $517,356

## Abstract

Kinesins are eukaryotic cytoskeletal proteins best known for their motile activity, but they are also
important regulators of microtubule dynamics, the ability of the microtubule polymer to grow or
shrink. This project seeks to establish the molecular mechanisms and adaptations that allows
different members of the kinesin superfamily to move along microtubules or to modulate
microtubule dynamics. Regulation of microtubule dynamics by kinesins play important roles in a
variety of cell processes such as mitosis, cytokinesis, neural development and the control of cilia
and centriole length, but the mechanisms by which these kinesins stabilize or destabilize
microtubules is still not fully clear. It is also not clear what conformational changes kinesins induce
on the microtubule and whether these conformational changes are transmitted through the
microtubule to allosterically modulate the binding of kinesin and other proteins along microtubules.
To address these questions, we will perform cryo-electron microscopy structural and functional
studies of motile and microtubule depolymerase kinesins, and their effect on microtubule
structure. The proposal is divided into three aims: 1) Determine the allosteric effects of kinesin
binding on microtubule structure and function. 2) Determine the mechanism of combined motile
and microtubule depolymerization activities of Kinesin-8s. 3) Determine the origin of different
functionalities among microtubule depolymerase kinesins.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10891701
- **Project number:** 5R01GM113164-12
- **Recipient organization:** ALBERT EINSTEIN COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** HERNANDO Jose SOSA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $517,356
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-03-01 → 2027-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10891701

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10891701, Mechanism of Microtubule Dynamics Regulation by Kinesins (5R01GM113164-12). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10891701. Licensed CC0.

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