Ahmet Yildiz
University of California, Berkeley
Editor, Molecular Machines, Motors, and Nanoscale Biophysics
Biophysical Journal

What are you currently working on?

We are interested in understanding how molecular motors transport intracellular cargos and power cell motility. We are currently focused on the cytoplasmic dynein motor, which drives nearly all motility and forces generation functions towards the minus-ends of microtubules. Over the past two decades, we studied how dynein “walks” along microtubules, and generates forces. More recently, our interest has shifted towards understanding how accessory factors play a role in recruiting and activating dynein at the right location and time. To achieve this goal, we attempt to reconstitute dynein-driven transport in vitro and then study how cofactors and other regulatory components affect dynein motility using single-molecule and cryo-electron imaging. Our long-term goal is to understand molecular rules that control the recruitment and motility of dynein and its opponent kinesin to achieve bidirectional transport of cellular cargos.

What has been your most exciting discovery as a biophysicist?

I developed a microscopy method that localizes single fluorophores with nanometer precision and used this method to show how myosin, kinesin, and dynein motors take steps and move processively along the cytoskeleton.

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