On load dependence of detachment rate of kinesin motor

Abstract Kinesin is an archetypal microtubule-based molecular motor that can generate force to transport cargo in cells. The load dependence of the detachment rate is an important factor of the kinesin motor, the determination of which is critically related to the chemomechanical coupling mechanism of the motor. Here, we use three models for the load dependence of the detachment rate of the kinesin motor to study theoretically and numerically the maximal force generated and microtubule-attachment duration of the motor. By comparing the theoretical and numerical results with the available experimental data, we show that only one model can explain well the available experimental data, indicating that only this model can be applicable to the kinesin motor.