RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A rhythmically pulsing leaf-spring nanoengine that drives a passive follower
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2021.12.22.473833
DO 10.1101/2021.12.22.473833
A1 Centola, Mathias
A1 Poppleton, Erik
A1 Centola, Martin
A1 Valero, Julián
A1 Šulc, Petr
A1 Famulok, Michael
YR 2021
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2021/12/23/2021.12.22.473833.abstract
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.