Stochastic microswimming model for the average translational velocity of the ribosome.
The motion of the ribosome is modeled here, assuming that its two subunits are subject to stochastic rearrangements, thus producing different conformations constituting its deformation cycle, or swimming stroke. Using a general statistical mechanical formulation, the mean propulsion velocity of the ribosome is obtained as a function of the transition rates among the different conformations and of the relevant deformation variables. A calculation with reasonable parameter estimations shows that the ribosome can match the average protein synthesis speed with deformations of a size comparable to its radius.
Departamento de Física y Matemáticas, Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Campus Ciudad de México, Calle del Puente 222, Col. Ejidos de Huipulco, Tlalpan, México, D.F. 14380, México. josagoga@itesm.mx
José S
JS
González-García
Joaquín
J
Delgado
D008954:Models, Biological; D009068:Movement; D012270:Ribosomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013269:Stochastic Processes