Controlling proteins through molecular springs.
We argue that the mechanical control of proteins-the notion of controlling chemical reactions and processes by mechanics-is conceptually interesting. We give a brief review of the main accomplishments so far, leading to our present approach of using DNA molecular springs to exert controlled stresses on proteins. Our focus is on the physical principles that underlie both artificial mechanochemical devices and natural mechanisms of allostery.
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1547, USA. zocchi@physics.ucla.edu
Giovanni
G
Zocchi
D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009038:Motion; D011487:Protein Conformation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D004247:DNA