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Glite Dictionary
kinesin

kinesin

1 9.9
A protein that carries small parts inside a cell along tiny tube-like tracks
  • noun
  • /kɪˈniːsɪn/
  • Specialized
: quinesina
  • Kinesin moves in a manner similar to a train traveling on tracks, delivering materials inside the cell.
  • kinesin motor

Examples

  • In the cell, kinesin carries vesicles to ensure they reach their destination.

  • How efficient is the kinesin motor and how much energy does it dissipate as it moves along the track?

    Academic text (2006)

  • Over time, many researchers around the world discovered that kinesins are a large family of proteins found in great abundance in cellular forms of life.

    Blog text (7)

  • The kinesin molecule works its way, taking almost humanlike steps along structures called microtubules inside cells.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Kinesin's role is to carry subcellular cargoes along microtubules.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The kinesin is highly processive—that is, it takes many steps before detaching from its microtubule track.

    Academic text (2006)

  • The kinesin molecule transports cargo along microtubules within the cell.

Synonyms

dynein
vskinesin
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A protein that moves cell parts and materials along tiny tubes inside cells

transports materials inside cells along microtubules rather than moving cilia

Surface Forms

kinesin singular
kinesins plural

Morphology

kinesin = kinesis (opaque) = kines + in

Formed from the Greek root 'kinesis' (movement) plus the protein-forming suffix '-in'; this is specialized scientific nomenclature unlikely to be inferable by an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word kinesin comes from the Greek root kine- meaning 'move' and the protein ending -in. You can see the same root in kinetic and cinema, which are about motion. So kinesin is literally a 'mover' inside cells, carrying materials along tiny tracks.