title: Membrane-associated nanomotors for macromolecular transport.
abstract: Nature has endowed cells with powerful nanomotors to accomplish intricate mechanical tasks, such as the macromolecular transport across membranes occurring in cell division, bacterial conjugation, and in a wide variety of secretion systems. These biological motors couple the chemical energy provided by ATP hydrolysis to the mechanical work needed to transport DNA and/or protein effectors. Here, we review what is known about the molecular mechanisms of these membrane-associated machines. Sequence and structural comparison between these ATPases reveal that they share a similar motor domain, suggesting a common evolutionary ancestor. Learning how these machines operate will lead the design of nanotechnology devices with unique applications in medicine and engineering.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad de Cantabria, and Instituto de Biomedicina y Biotecnología de Cantabria, UC-SODERCAN-CSIC, C. Herrera Oria s/n, 39011 Santander, Spain. cabezone@unican.es
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cabezon
authors.forename: Val F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Lanza
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arechaga
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D020090:Chromosome Segregation; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008566:Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D010944:Plants / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases