title: Specific transport of target molecules by motor proteins in microfluidic channels.
abstract: Direct transport powered by motor proteins can alleviate the challenges presented by miniaturization of microfluidic systems. There have been several recent attempts to build motor-protein-driven transport systems based on simple capturing or transport mechanisms. However, to achieve a multifunctional device for practical applications, a more complex sorting/transport system should be realized. Herein, the proof of concept of a sorting device employing selective capture of distinct target molecules and transport of the sorted molecules to different predefined directions is presented. By combining the bottom-up functionality of biological systems with the top-down handling capabilities of micro-electromechanical systems technology, highly selective molecular recognition and motor-protein-based transport is integrated in a microfluidic channel network.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan. mctarhan@iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mehmet C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Tarhan
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yokokawa
authors.forename: Fabrice O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Morin
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujita
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D001710:Biotin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D011485:Protein Binding; D019809:Streptavidin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D001710:Biotin; D019809:Streptavidin; D016547:Kinesins