Modeling Bidirectional Transport of New and Used Organelles in Fast Axonal Transport in Neurons

Abstract

This paper develops a model for simulating transport of newly synthesized material from the neuron body toward the synapse of the axon as well as transport of misfolded and aggregated proteins back to the neuron body for recycling. The model demonstrates that motor-assisted transport, much similar to diffusion, can occur due to a simple concentration difference between the cell body and the synapse; organelles heading to the synapse do not need to attach preferably to plus-end-directed molecular motors, same as organelles heading to the neuron body for recycling do not need to attach preferably to minus-end-directed molecular motors. The underlying mechanics of molecular-motor-assisted transport is such that organelles would be transported to the right place even if new and used organelles had the same probability of attachment to plus-end-directed (and minus-end-directed) motors. It is also demonstrated that the axon with organelle traps and a region with a reversed microtubule polarity would support much smaller organelle fluxes of both new and used organelles than a healthy axon. The flux of organelles is shown to decrease as the width of organelle traps increases.