Mechanism for a directional, processive, and reversible DNA motor.

Journal article

A bipedal motor mechanism that coordinates the chemical and mechanical cycles of two-identical feet can be generalized to obtain energy from hydrolysis of a DNA or RNA fuel was demonstrated. The motors that can operate continuously on a reusable track require a separate fuel, linear motion and can be coupled to ATP hydrolysis by using a motor architecture. The interaction between fuel and motor can be followed by labeling a fuel at the 5 inches end with FAM and at the 3 inches with TAMRA, thereby decreasing the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The mechanism derived has the properties required to create a chemically fueled molecular motor that is both directional and processive, and the directional bias of these motors can be reversed by changing the fuel.

Authors: Bath, J; Green, S; Allen, K; Turberfield, A

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 13
• Pages: 1513-1516
• Publication date: 2009-07-01
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.200900078
• EISSN: 1613-6829
• ISSN: 1613-6810
• Language: English
• Keywords: Models, Molecular; Kinetics; Reproducibility of Results; DNA; Sensitivity and Specificity; Energy Transfer; Nanotechnology; Transducers; Equipment Failure Analysis; Models, Chemical; Equipment Design; Motion