Kinesin beads assay in micro channels toward molecular manipulation directly driven by motor proteins

We developed an experimental method that realize cargo transport by kinesin motility on microtubule (MT) tracks prepared in an enclosed microchannel array. Pneumatic valves made of poly (dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) enabled fixation of MT array preserving motility function in single-micrometer-scale channels. We counted the number of Q-dots in microchannels with or without the valve actuation. A ratio of the number of Q-dots carried by kinesin on MTs to the number of those freely diffusing in the bulk solution increased in the enclosed microchannel array. In addition, simulation was implemented using experimental results to determine parameters of a model. Results predicted the feasibility of particle concentration in microchannels. Proposed method and the results exhibited here provide a basis for improvement of in vitro cargo transport by kinesin beads assay.