Dynamic nano- and micro-devices based on protein motors

Protein motors are enzymes that naturally generate force and move along tracks of protein polymers (actin filaments or microtubules), using energy from the hydrolysis of adenosinetriphosphate (ATP). To harness these protein motors to power nanometer-scale devices, we have investigated effective and non-destructive methods for immobilizing protein motors on surfaces and to arrange the output of these motors, e.g. force and movement, to be in a defined direction. We found polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and NEB-22 to be useful for immobilizing protein motors while retaining their abilities to support the movement of protein polymers. We fabricated various patterns of tracks of PMMA or NEB22 on coverslips and protein motors were introduced and immobilized on the patterns. The trajectories of protein polymers were confined to these tracks. Simple patterns readily biased polymer movement confining it to be unidirectional. Applications of motor proteins in nanometric fine-movement microactuators are now stepping closer to reality.

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