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

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 b...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Bath, J, Green, S, Allen, K, Turberfield, A
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2009
Description
Summary: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.