Fluctuation theorems and the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of molecular motors.
The fluctuation theorems for the currents and the dissipated work are considered for molecular motors which are driven out of equilibrium by chemical reactions. Because of the molecular fluctuations, these nonequilibrium processes are described by stochastic models based on a master equation. Analytical expressions are derived for the fluctuation theorems, allowing us to obtain predictions on the work dissipated in the motor as well as on its rotation near and far from thermodynamic equilibrium. We show that the fluctuation theorems provide a method to determine the affinity or thermodynamic force driving the motor. This affinity is given in terms of the free enthalpy of the chemical reactions. The theorems are applied to the F1 rotary motor which turns out to be a stiff system typically functioning in the nonlinear regime of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. We show that this nonlinearity confers a robustness to the functioning of the molecular motor.
Andrieux
David
D
Center for Nonlinear Phenomena and Complex Systems, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Code Postal 231, Campus Plaine, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
Gaspard
Pierre
P
D003198:Computer Simulation; D008954:Models, Biological; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015233:Models, Statistical; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D009038:Motion; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013816:Thermodynamics
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases