Dynamics of individual molecular shuttles under mechanical force
Artist rendition of the experimental set-up. Individual molecular shuttles are interfaced with the optical tweezers using DNA handles. Load is applied to the
system by moving the optical trap away from the micropipette. At constant load, the shuttling dynamics of the ring are inferred by measuring the motions of the bead in the optical trap.
Naranjo T, Lemishko KM, de Lorenzo S, Somoza A, Ritort F, Perez EM, Ibarra B.
Nat Commun 2018 Oct; 9: 4512.
Molecular shuttles are the basis of some of the most advanced synthetic molecular machines. In these devices a macrocycle threaded onto a linear component shuttles between different portions of the thread in response to external stimuli. Here, we use optical tweezers to measure the mechanics and dynamics of individual molecular shuttles in aqueous conditions. Using DNA as a handle and as a single molecule reporter, we measure thousands of individual shuttling events and determine the force-dependent kinetic rates of the macrocycle motion and the main parameters governing the energy landscape of the system. Our findings could open avenues for the real-time characterization of synthetic devices at the single molecule level, and provide crucial information for designing molecular machinery able to operate under physiological conditions.
PubMed: 30375395. Doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06905-8. Free PMC article
