Movement of organelles along filaments dissociated from the axoplasm of the squid giant axon

Ronald D. Vale, Bruce J. Schnapp, Thomas S. Reese, Michael P. Sheetz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

193 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cytoplasmic filaments, separated from the axoplasm of the squid giant axon and visualized by video-enhanced differential interference contrast microscopy, support the directed movement of organelles in the presence of ATP All organelles, regardless of size, move continuously along isolated transport filaments at 2.2 ± 0.2 μm/sec. In the intact axoplasm, however, movements of the larger organelles are slow and saltatory. These movements may reflect a resistance to movement imposed by the intact axoplasm. The uniform rate of all organelles along isolated transport filaments suggests that a single type of molecular motor powers fast axonal transport. Organelles can attach to and move along more than one filament at a time, suggesting that organelles have multiple binding sites for this motor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)449-454
Number of pages6
JournalCell
Volume40
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1985
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Movement of organelles along filaments dissociated from the axoplasm of the squid giant axon'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this