Effect of microtubule immobilization by glutaraldehyde on kinesin-driven cargo transport

The glutaraldehyde fixation method for fixing tissues is attractive for its ease of use and straightforward surface chemistry. We investigated the effect of glutaraldehyde-induced microtubule immobilization on kinesin-driven cargo transport along microtubules and found that at low glutaraldehyde concentrations, the microtubule–kinesin interaction remains unperturbed. Such findings may facilitate the application of the glutaraldehyde fixation method for many in vitro studies aiming to build nanodevices powered by the microtubule–motor protein interaction. The graphical abstract shows that the kinesin-driven quantum dot transport along microtubule immobilized on a substrate using glutaraldehyde concentration ≤0.10% (v/v) remain unaltered, whereas, at higher glutaraldehyde concentration, >0.10% (v/v), the quantum dot transportation is slowed down.