Coordinated chemomechanical cycles: a mechanism for autonomous molecular motion.
The second law of thermodynamics requires that directed motion be accompanied by dissipation of energy. Here we demonstrate the working principles of a bipedal molecular motor. The motor is constructed from DNA and is driven by the hybridization of a DNA fuel. We show how the catalytic activities of the feet can be coordinated to create a Brownian ratchet that is in principle capable of directional and processive movement along a track. This system can be driven away from equilibrium, demonstrating the potential of the motor to do work.
Green
S J
SJ
University of Oxford, Department of Physics, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PU, United Kingdom.
Bath
J
J
Turberfield
A J
AJ
D001483:Base Sequence; D002384:Catalysis; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013816:Thermodynamics
D004247:DNA