Modulation of kinesin half-site ADP release and kinetic processivity by a spacer between the head groups.

A series of modifications of the junction of the neck linker and neck coil of dimeric Drosophila kinesin were constructed to determine the influence of head orientation and spacing on the ATPase kinetics. Ala(345) is the first residue in the coiled-coil of the neck, and its replacement with glycine or proline produces no significant change in the k(cat) or K(0.5(MT)) values for activation of their ATPase by microtubules (MTs) or in their k(bi(ratio)) value for the average number of ATP molecules hydrolyzed during a processive encounter with a MT.