Question

Kinesin is a motor protein that moves cargo within cells in a series of a rapid 8-nm-long steps. Each step takes 50 microseconds, and there is an average 15 milliseconds (ms) delay between steps. To one significant figure, what is the average speed of a Kinesin motor protein?

Answer 1

The average speed of a Kinesin motor protein is approximately 160 nm/s.

Step-by-step explanation:

The average speed of a Kinesin motor protein can be calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken. Each step of the Kinesin motor protein is 8 nm long, and it takes 50 microseconds (µs) to complete each step. There is an average 15 milliseconds (ms) delay between steps.

To calculate the average speed, we first need to convert the delay time to seconds:

15 milliseconds = 15 × 10-3 seconds

Next, we calculate the time taken for each step:

Time taken for each step = 50 µs + 15 × 10-3 seconds

Then, we can calculate the average speed:

Average speed = Distance / Time

Average speed = 8 nm / (50 µs + 15 × 10-3 seconds)

Average speed = 8 nm / (50 × 10-6 seconds + 15 × 10-3 seconds)

Average speed = 8 nm / 0.050015 seconds (approximately)

Average speed ≈ 160 nm/s