Various biological parts and structures are formed within cells and transported to parts of the body by driving proteins called motor proteins. For example, melanin pigment that influences skin tone is produced in melanocytes and passed to keratinocytes through dendrites. Keratinocytes absorb melanin from surrounding areas (or tips of dendrites including melanin) and darken.
Usually, melanin generated in melanocytes is transported to the end of dendrites. In this process, melanosomes are transported by kinesin, a type of motor protein.
Melanin is transported along dendrites while it is synthesised in sacks called melanosomes. Kinesin is involved in the transport of melanosomes to the end of dendrites (Fig. 1). Kinesin is a protein with limb-like structures. Kinesin holds up melanosome using hand-like structures (light chains) and walks on microtubules using leg-like structures (heavy chains).
Kinesins travel in a specific direction, always toward the end of dendrites, namely keratinocytes. They move their leg-like structures alternately as though they are walking. Since they look like micro robots, they are also known as ‘biological nanomachines’.
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