title: High rectifying efficiencies of microtubule motility on kinesin-coated gold nanostructures.
abstract: We demonstrate highly efficient rectification of microtubule motility on gold nanofabricated structures. First, we present a novel nanofabrication process for the creation of gold tracks for microtubule motility recessed in silicon oxide. This approach is particularly useful because it enables the use of the well-understood PEG-silane chemistry on SiO2 for the blocking of kinesin, whereas the gold tracks allow possible electrical control. We demonstrate excellent confinement of microtubule motility to the gold nanostructures and that microtubules move on the gold with speeds comparable to that on glass. Second, we present designs of three advanced rectifier geometries. We analyze the microtubule pathways through the geometries, and we demonstrate highly efficient rectification with up to 92% efficiency. As a result, we find that up to 97% of the microtubules move unidirectionally.
authors.affiliation: Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Section Molecular Biophysics, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Martin G L
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: van den Heuvel
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Butcher
authors.forename: Ralph M M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Smeets
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diez
authors.forename: Cees
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dekker
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement; D004330:Drosophila; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry*; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry; D012821:Silanes / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D012821:Silanes; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006046:Gold; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D016547:Kinesins