Which ATPase is responsible for anterograde intracellular transport of vesicles?

Question

The question is asking if you know what protein is responsible for moving a vesicle towards the cell membrane for exocytosis (an example of anterograde transport).

Answer 1

The ATPase responsible for anterograde intracellular transport of vesicles is called kinesin.

Kinesin is a motor protein that moves along microtubules in the cytoskeleton, using energy from ATP hydrolysis to power its movement. It plays a critical role in the transport of vesicles and organelles within the cell, moving them towards the cell membrane for exocytosis or to other destinations within the cell. Kinesin moves along microtubules in the plus direction (towards the cell's "plus" end), which is defined as anterograde transport.

In contrast, another type of motor protein called dynein moves along microtubules in the minus direction (towards the cell's "minus" end), which is defined as retrograde transport. Dynein is responsible for the transport of vesicles and organelles in the opposite direction, towards the cell's center or towards the cell's organelles.

Answer 2

Kinesin is a protein powered by ATP (ATPase) that transports vesicles away from their origin. Examples are exocytosis of proteins from the RER or Trans-Golgi and neurotransmitters traveling down the axon to the site of synapse.