Driving Smart Molecular Systems by Artificial Molecular Machines

Zhao-Tao Shi; Qi Zhang; He Tian; Da-Hui Qu

doi:10.1002/aisy.201900169

DNA Origami Nanomachines

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules23071766 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (7) ◽

pp. 1766 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Masayuki Endo ◽

Hiroshi Sugiyama

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequences ◽

Molecular Motors ◽

Molecular Machines ◽

Dna Origami ◽

Dna Nanostructures ◽

Molecular Systems ◽

Nanoscale Structures ◽

Research Fields ◽

Dna Strands ◽

External Stimuli

DNA can assemble various molecules and nanomaterials in a programmed fashion and is a powerful tool in the nanotechnology and biology research fields. DNA also allows the construction of desired nanoscale structures via the design of DNA sequences. Structural nanotechnology, especially DNA origami, is widely used to design and create functionalized nanostructures and devices. In addition, DNA molecular machines have been created and are operated by specific DNA strands and external stimuli to perform linear, rotational, and reciprocating movements. Furthermore, complicated molecular systems have been created on DNA nanostructures by arranging multiple molecules and molecular machines precisely to mimic biological systems. Currently, DNA nanomachines, such as molecular motors, are operated on DNA nanostructures. Dynamic DNA nanostructures that have a mechanically controllable system have also been developed. In this review, we describe recent research on new DNA nanomachines and nanosystems that were built on designed DNA nanostructures.

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Ferrocene-containing non-interlocked molecular machines

Chemical Communications ◽

10.1039/c5cc09569g ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 52 (12) ◽

pp. 2451-2464 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Synøve Ø. Scottwell ◽

James D. Crowley

Keyword(s):

Ball Bearing ◽

Molecular Machines ◽

Redox Properties ◽

Molecular Machine ◽

Molecular Systems ◽

Reversible Redox ◽

Wide Range ◽

Machine Systems

Ferrocene is chemically robust and readily functionalized which enables its facile incorporation into more complex molecular systems. This coupled with ferrocene's reversible redox properties and ability to function as a “molecular ball bearing” has led to the use of ferrocene as a component in wide range of non-interlocked synthetic molecular machine systems.

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Highly-parallel microfluidics-based force spectroscopy on single cytoskeletal motors

10.1101/2020.08.11.245910 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marta Urbanska ◽

Annemarie Lüdecke ◽

Wim J. Walter ◽

Antoine M. van Oijen ◽

Karl E. Duderstadt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Single Molecule ◽

Vertical Component ◽

Force Spectroscopy ◽

Molecular Machines ◽

Field Of View ◽

Large Field ◽

Cellular Functions ◽

Molecular Systems ◽

Cytoskeletal Motors ◽

Run Lengths

AbstractCytoskeletal motors transform chemical energy into mechanical work to drive essential cellular functions. Optical trapping experiments have provided crucial insights into the operation of these molecular machines under load. However, the throughput of such force spectroscopy experiments is typically limited to one measurement at a time. Here, we describe an alternative, highly-parallel, microfluidics-based method that allows for rapid collection of force-dependent motility parameters of cytoskeletal motors. We applied tunable hydrodynamic forces to stepping kinesin-1 motors via DNA-tethered beads and utilized a large field-of-view to simultaneously track the velocities, run lengths and interaction times of hundreds of individual kinesin-1 molecules under varying resisting and assisting loads. Importantly, the 16-μm long DNA tethers between the motors and the beads significantly reduced the vertical component of the applied force pulling the motors away from the microtubule. Our approach is readily applicable to other molecular systems and constitutes a new methodology for parallelized single-molecule force studies on cytoskeletal motors.

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Molecular Dynamics Study of Molecular Mobility in Catenanes

Defect and Diffusion Forum ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/ddf.237-240.1174 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 237-240 ◽

pp. 1174-1181 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ye.V. Tourleigh ◽

K.V. Shaitan

Keyword(s):

Molecular Dynamics ◽

Molecular Machines ◽

Redox Status ◽

Dynamics Simulation ◽

Chemical Calculation ◽

Chemical Bonds ◽

Hindered Rotation ◽

Molecular Systems ◽

External Conditions ◽

Molecular Rings

Molecular machines described in this paper are meant to be such molecular systems that make use of conformational mobility (i.e. hindered rotation around chemical bonds and molecular construction deformations with formation and breakage of nonvalent bonds). Components of molecular machines move mainly by means of restricted diffusion. As an example of molecular machines of a nonbiological nature catenanes (compounds with two interlocked molecular rings) can be proposed. Thus, for example, model catenane ((2)-(cyclo-bi (paraquat-p-phenylene))- (1(2,6)-tetrathiafulvalena-16(1,5)naphtalena-3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29- decaoxatnacontaphane)-catenane) changes its redox status when an electric field is applied, and rotation of the rings takes place. It occurs with fixation at certain moments of the influence. To find out characteristic properties of rings movements under various external conditions molecular dynamics simulation was carried out. Three cationic forms of the catenane were first subjected to geometrical optimization and quantum chemical calculation.

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Rotaxanes and catenanes as prototypes of molecular machines and motors

Pure and Applied Chemistry ◽

10.1351/pac200375101383 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 75 (10) ◽

pp. 1383-1393 ◽

Cited By ~ 90

Author(s):

C. O. Dietrich-Buchecker ◽

M. C. Jimenez-Molero ◽

V. Sartor ◽

J.-P. Sauvage

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Properties ◽

Molecular Machines ◽

Molecular Assembly ◽

External Signal ◽

Metal Exchange ◽

Metathesis Reaction ◽

Preparative Scale ◽

Molecular Systems ◽

Metal Exchange Reaction ◽

Stretching Process

In the course of the last 20 years, our view on rotaxanes and catenanes has completely changed. Copper(I)-templated strategies, in particular, have allowed us to prepare catenanes on a real preparative scale, in a few chemical steps from commercially available compounds. A particularly significant improvement was the introduction of the recently developed ring-closing metathesis reaction, using Grubbs catalyst. The dynamic properties of rotaxanes and catenanes has been exploited to construct molecular systems for which one component can be set in motion under the action of an external signal, while the other components can be considered as motionless (artificial molecular “machines ”and “motors ”). A particularly representative example is that of a rotaxane dimer, whose overall length can be controlled chemically: A metal exchange reaction (CuI/ZnII) triggers a reversible contraction/stretching process of the same molecular assembly, in a way reminiscent of the functioning of biological muscles.

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