MOTORS AND MEMBRANE TRAFFIC

The cytoskeleton is essential for the proper function of many componen ts of secretory and endocytic pathways, and the importance both of mic rotubule motors (kinesins and dyneins) and of actin motors (myosins) i n these pathways is becoming apparent. Recent experiments have improve d our understanding of which members of these motor protein families a re involved in membrane traffic. Multiple motors are probably involved in the control of the morphology and dynamics of many membranes, and intriguing hints about how these motors are coordinated are appearing.