Suspended microtubules demonstrate high sensitivity and low experimental variability in kinesin bead assay

Abstract

Microtubule (MT) based intraneuronal transport deficiency is directly linked to neurodegeneration. Hence, the development of a reliable and sensitive in vitro approach permitting efficient analysis of MT-based transport is essential for our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms that may lead to novel therapeutic approaches for treating neurodegenerative diseases. Here, based on previously developed reconstructed MT–kinesin assay, we propose its “suspended” modification that shows higher sensitivity and lower experimental variability.