PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Centola, Mathias
AU  - Poppleton, Erik
AU  - Centola, Martin
AU  - Valero, Julián
AU  - Šulc, Petr
AU  - Famulok, Michael
TI  - A rhythmically pulsing leaf-spring nanoengine that drives a passive follower
AID  - 10.1101/2021.12.22.473833
DP  - 2021 Jan 01
TA  - bioRxiv
PG  - 2021.12.22.473833
4099  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/23/2021.12.22.473833.short
4100  - http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/23/2021.12.22.473833.full
AB  - Molecular engineering seeks to create functional entities for the modular use in the bottom-up design of nanoassemblies that can perform complex tasks. Such systems require fuel-consuming nanomotors that can actively drive downstream passive followers. Most molecular motors are driven by Brownian motion, but the generated forces are scattered and insufficient for efficient transfer to passive second-tier components, which is why nanoscale driver-follower systems have not been realized. Here, we describe bottom-up construction of a DNA-nanomachine that engages in an active, autonomous and rhythmical pulsing motion of two rigid DNA-origami arms, driven by chemical energy. We show the straightforward coupling of the active nanomachine to a passive follower unit, to which it then transmits its own motion, thus constituting a genuine driver-follower pair. Our work introduces a versatile fuel-consuming nanomachine that can be coupled with passive modules in nanoassemblies, the function of which depends on downstream sequences of motion.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.