BIOMACH partner Delft has designed a device, in which kinesin motor proteins can be used in nanometer scale to perform
mechanical work. Controlled application of an external field steers the microtubules into either one of two arms of a Y
junction (see Figure). These results were published in the prestigious scientific journal
“Science”. See
also the perspective by Henry Hess.
BIOMACH
is a cross-disciplinary research initiative dealing with molecular machines,
in particular biological and artificial motors. A close collaboration
between chemists known for their expertise in designing functional (bio)molecular
motors, biophysicists experienced in dealing with molecular biomachines
and physicists addressing single-molecules will advance the basic understanding
in this domain.
The long-term vision of our research initiative is, firstly to merge the advantages of the accessible biological and artificial systems by (self)assembling of hybrid bio-inorganic working devices, and secondly to rationalize and to operate them on the single-molecule level.
© 2004 | Coordination: Dr. Mario Ruben, Institute of Nanotechnology at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe/Germany.