Behaviors of microtubules (MTs) driven by biological motors (dynein c) at collisions against micro-fabricated tracks and mts for potential nano-bio-machines.
In vitro motility assays, where protein motors (attached to a surface) move protein filaments, have been used for investigating protein motors' functions. In recent decades, these assays are extended to explore potential applications of motor proteins as biological motors in nano-bio-machine development. Recent attempts include fabricating micrometer-scale tracks on the surface to confine and guide the flow of bio-filaments as a power transfer medium driven by the motor proteins. Understanding the interaction between bio-filaments and fabricated tracks as well as the mutual interaction between bio-filaments is of importance to the design of potential nano-bio-machines. In this study, we investigate the behaviors of a microtubule driven by axonemal dynein at the collision against another microtubule and micro-fabricated walls, respectively. Based on experimental observations, we propose a model to study possible mechanisms for the microtubule-microtubule and microtubule-wall interactions, which involve bumping force, bending moment and torque generation.
Chen
Q
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Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2V2, Canada.
Li
D Y
DY
Shitaka
Y
Y
Oiwa
K
K
D001692:Biological Transport; D004398:Dyneins; D016547:Kinesins; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008870:Microtubules; D008954:Models, Biological; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins
D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D004398:Dyneins; D016547:Kinesins