Development of Mechanical Driven DNA Nanomotors

Abstract

Motor proteins like kinesins, dyneins, and myosins, drive many important biological processes. They are bipedal nano-walkers that make directional steps along a linear track, converting chemical energy to perform mechanical work. Inspired by these biological nanomotors, artificial track-walking nanomotors are actively developed. However, all track-walking nanomotors reported to date use a single molecular motif for the wheel-like binding component and the engine-like component responsible for energy consumption and force generation. This contrasts with macroscopic motors such as modern cars, which are characterized by spatially and functionally separable engines and wheels. Such a modular design is desired to reduce the technical requirements and fill the gap between nanomotors and more common switchable nanodevices. Here we propose a general design principle of modular nanomotors constructed from untangled engine-like and wheel-like motifs, and provides an experimental proof of concept by implementing light-responsive bipedal DNA nanomotors.