Molecular Machines

Kilho Eom — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 02:57:17 -0400

The posting about new book by Mikhaliov about nanomolecular machine seems interesting. In general, molecular machine is referred to as biomolecules which can perform mechanical function via their conformation change upon ligand-binding. For instance, F0-F1-ATPase is one of well-known molecular motors which generate the mechanical energy through rotation of stator induced by ATP binding. A lot of studies on mechanism of F0-F1-ATPase have been computationally implemented by various researchers such as Martin Karplus, Peter G Wolynes, Shoji Takada, and so on. The other example of molecular motor is DNA motor which consists of specific sequences known as i-motif (telomeric motif). The conformation change from folded structure into denatured chain for i-motif is typically induced by pH change of a solvent. Various researchers such as Erik Winfree, Nadrian C Seeman, Friedrich C Simmel, Mark E Welland, ans so on have demonstrated the mechanism of DNA motor and/or application of DNA motor into development of microactuator.

Understanding molecular mechanism of biomolecules may be essential for further development of nano-scale mechanical devices and/or may provide the insight into the function of biomolecular motors.

If one is interested in molecular motors, one may look at the references listed in below.

[1] Miyashita, O., Onuchic, J.N., Wolynes, P.G., "Nonlinear elasticity, proteinquake, and the energy landscapes of functional transitions in proteins" PNAS 100, p12570 (2003)
[2] Maragakis, P., Karplus, M., "Large amplitude of conformational change in proteins explored with plastic network model: Adenylate kinase" J. Mol. Biol. 352, p807 (2005)
[3] Cui, Q., Li, G., Ma, J., Karplus, M., "A normal mode analysis of structural plasticity in the biomolecular motor F1-ATPase", J. Mol. Biol., 340, p345 (2004)
[4] Venkataraman, S. et al., "An autonomous polymerization motor powered by DNA hybridization", Nature Nanotechnology 2, p490 (2007)
[5] Shu, W.M., et al., "DNA molecular motor driven microcantilever arrays", J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, p17054 (2005)

Life as a nanoscale phonomena

RoozbehSanaei — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 01:33:37 -0400

Life as a Nanoscale Phenomenon, by Stephen Mann

Is a nice review of artificial machines

The nanoscale is not just the middle ground between molecular and
macroscopic but a dimension that is specifically geared to the gathering,
processing, and transmission of chemical-based information.
Herein we consider the living cell as an integrated self-regulating
complex chemical system run principally by nanoscale miniaturization,
and propose that this specific level of dimensional constraint is
critical for the emergence and sustainability of cellular life in its
minimal form. We address key aspects of the structure and function of
the cell interface and internal metabolic processing that are coextensive
with the up-scaling of molecular components to globular nanoobjects
(integral membrane proteins, enzymes, and receptors, etc) and higherorder
architectures such as microtubules, ribosomes, and molecular
motors. Future developments in nanoscience could provide the basis
for artificial life.

iMechanica - molecular machine - Comments

Molecular Machines

Life as a nanoscale phonomena