Hybrid Nanostructures: Dual Transport Systems Based on Hybrid Nanostructures of Microtubules and Actin Filaments (Small 13/2011)

The cover figure illustrates microtubule–actin filament hybrid nanostructures on either kinesin- or myosin-coated surfaces. Here, two different cytoskeletons, a microtubule and an actin filament, are conjugated together with the help of biotin–streptavidin bindings, resulting in the hybrid nanostructure, which can move on both kinesin- and myosin-coated surfaces. Although the hybrid nanostructure has a flexural rigidity value between those of microtubules and actin filaments, it moves like a microtubule when it is on kinesin and like an actin filament when on myosin. This implies that the characteristics of the hybrid nanostructure's motion are mainly determined by the underlying motor protein rather than the rigidity of the filaments. For more information, please read the Communication “Dual Transport Systems Based on Hybrid Nanostructures of Microtubules and Actin Filaments” by S. Hong and co-workers, beginning on page 1755.