R. J. McKenney

Conserved Roles for the Dynein Intermediate Chain and Ndel1 in Assembly and Activation of Dynein

This study identifies conserved roles of dynein intermediate chain and Ndel1 in dynein-dynactin-adapter complex assembly and activation through structural and functional analyses.

Control of Motor Landing and Processivity by the CAP-Gly Domain in the KIF13B Tail

This study investigates how the CAP-Gly domain in KIF13B affects its interaction with tyrosinated microtubules, showing it influences initial binding and processive motility.

The Ndc80-Cdt1-Ska1 complex constitute a minimal processive kinetochore-microtubule coupling unit

This study identifies a minimal molecular unit composed of Ndc80, Cdt1, and Ska1 that enables processive kinetochore-microtubule coupling during mitosis.

Microtubule Lattice Spacing Governs Cohesive Envelope Formation of Tau Family Proteins

This study shows that tau family proteins form cohesive envelopes around microtubules, regulated by lattice spacing, which differentially affects motor protein movement and microtubule function.

Reconstitution of Kinesin-1 Activation

This study reconstitutes kinesin-1 activation in vitro, revealing that KLC-based inhibition and cargo-adaptor binding regulate motor activity, with a third non-motor MAP required for robust motility.

Structural stability of SARS-CoV-2 degrades with temperature

This study shows that SARS-CoV-2 structural stability decreases with temperature, supporting the seasonal pattern of viral infectivity.

A Highly Conserved 310-Helix Within the Kinesin Motor Domain is Critical for Kinesin Function and Human Health.

This study identifies a conserved 310-helix in KIF1A critical for motor function and human health, showing that the P305L mutation disrupts microtubule association and motor performance.

A Combinatorial MAP Code Dictates Polarized Microtubule Transport

This study shows that combinations of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) influence motor-cargo transport directionality, suggesting a combinatorial MAP code that biases microtubule movement.

Disease-associated mutations hyperactivate KIF1A motility and anterograde axonal transport of synaptic vesicle precursors

This study shows that disease-associated KIF1A mutations hyperactivate motor activity, leading to increased anterograde axonal transport of synaptic vesicle precursors and contributing to motor neuron disease.

Microtubules Gate Tau Condensation to Spatially Regulate Microtubule Functions

The paper shows microtubules regulate tau condensation, which spatially controls microtubule severing enzymes and motor movement.

Antagonism between the dynein and Ndc80 complexes at kinetochores controls the stability of kinetochore-microtubule attachments during mitosis

This study shows that dynein and Ndc80 complexes antagonize each other's microtubule binding at kinetochores, and their coordinated function is critical for stable kinetochore-microtubule attachments during mitosis.

Cooperative Accumulation Of Dynein-Dynactin At Microtubule Minus-Ends Drives Microtubule Network Reorganization

This study identifies how dynein-dynactin complexes accumulate at microtubule minus-ends to drive MT sliding, clustering, aster formation, and network contraction during mitosis.

Cryo-electron tomography reveals that dynactin recruits a team of dyneins for processive motility

The paper uses cryo-electron tomography to reveal the 3D structure of the dynein-dynactin complex bound to microtubules, showing how dynactin recruits two dynein dimers for processive motility.

Differential Effects of LIS1 On Processive Dynein-Dynactin Motility

This study investigates how LIS1 affects dynein-dynactin motility using single-molecule microscopy, finding that LIS1 enhances velocity in a concentration-dependent manner.