Conveners
W2-3 Molecular Motors (DPMB) | Moteurs moléculaires (DPMB)
- Nancy Forde (Simon Fraser University)
Translocation of a ligand bound spherical cargo which is biochemically associated to a receptor bound substrate through a Burnt bridges ratchet mechanism is fundamentally altered if the cargo is capable of rolling. Directed rolling is an effective method for cargo translocation and arises only for specific ranges in parameter space of this system. In this study we present the dynamical...
Biomolecular machines are central actors in a myriad of major cell biological process. It seems plausible that evolution has sculpted these machines to efficiently transduce free energy (thus reducing dissipation) in their natural contexts, where stochastic fluctuations are large, nonequilibrium driving forces are strong, and biological imperatives require rapid turnover. But what are the...
At microscopic scales, biological systems must maintain a high degree of organization in order to properly function. Ultimately, this organization is achieved by the concerted efforts of a collection of nanoscale molecular machines, protein complexes that perform specific energy-transduction functions within the cell. Quantifying the flows of energy, information, and material through such...
Despite the second law of thermodynamics and a harsh thermal environment, molecular motors, among their many talents, are capable of directed motion and long range transport within cells. In this talk I will discuss our approach towards understanding how directed and processive motion is achieved at the molecular scale through the synthesis of an artificial molecular motor comprised of no...
Spatiotemporal control of cytoskeletal transport can provide new possibilities for dissecting cellular processes and for constructing complex artificial devices. Optogenetic approaches have been used for both controlled recruitment of motors to cellular cargos [1] and direct modulation of motor speed and direction [2]. Previous designs for light-activated gearshifting [2] were non-processive,...
