Mechanism of cargo selectivity in axonal transport Isolation and characterization of kinesin light chain associated vesicles

The aim of this project is to gain knowledge about how the motor protein kinesin-I interacts with its vesicle cargo, and what the nature is of the vesicles that are transported by kinesin-I through neurons. The role of neuronal transport in neurodegenerat ive diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, emphasizes the importance of elucidating mechanisms involved in this process. Therefore, I want to investigate the role of the different kinesin-I subunits in vesicle binding in order to determine their different roles in both vesicle transport and vesicle selectivity. Further, I will isolate protein complexes that associate with kinesin light chain. Identification of these proteins will enable me to study the mechanism behind vesicle association and dissociation, and furthermore, I will be able to look for vesicular proteins that work as kinesin-I receptors. Finally, I will isolate kinesin light chain associated vesicles. This will for the first time make us able to characterize what kind of vesicles that are tra nsported by kinesin-I. The results achieved by this project will provide important information about molecular mechanisms in neuronal transport. This kind of information is very important for our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases at the molecula r level, and crucial in order to be able to develop therapeutics.