title: Autonomous synergic control of nanomotors.
abstract: Control is a hallmark of machines; effective control over a nanoscale system is necessary to turn it into a nanomachine. Nanomotors from biology often integrate a ratchet-like passive control and a power-stroke-like active control, and this synergic active-plus-passive control is critical to efficient utilization of energy. It remains a challenge to integrate the two differing types of control in rationally designed nanomotor systems. Recently a light-powered track-walking DNA nanomotor was developed from a bioinspired design principle that has the potential to integrate both controls. However, it is difficult to separate experimental signals for either control due to a tight coupling of both controls. Here we present a systematic study of the motor and new derivatives using different fluorescence labeling schemes and light operations. The experimental data suggest that the motor achieves the two controls autonomously through a mechanics-mediated symmetry breaking. This study presents an experimental validation for the bioinspired design principle of mechanical breaking of symmetry for synergic ratchet-plus-power stroke control. Augmented by mechanical and kinetic modeling, this experimental study provides mechanistic insights that may help advance molecular control in future nanotechnological systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, ‡NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, and §Center for Computational Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore , Singapore 117542.
authors.forename: Meihan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ruizheng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Iong Ying
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: Sarangapani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sreelatha
authors.forename: Ju Nie
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Tey
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Zhisong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang