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Related Concept Videos

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism01:30

Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism

Ligand-gated ion channels are transmembrane proteins that play a vital role in intercellular communication and functions of the nervous system. They allow the influx of ions across the membrane once the neurotransmitter binds, allowing the subsequent transmission of electrical excitation across the neurons. Other ligand-gated ion channels, like the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor, permit anions like chloride into the cells on the binding of the GABA molecule. Their entry into the cell...
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Non-gated Ion Channels01:24

Non-gated Ion Channels

Ion channels are specialized proteins on the plasma membrane that allow charged ions to pass down their electrochemical gradient. Their main function is to maintain the membrane potential which is critical for cell viability. These channels are either gated or non-gated and can transport more than a thousand ions within milliseconds for the cellular event to occur.
Compared to the gated ion channels, the non-gated channels, also known as leakage or passive channels, have no gating mechanism.
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Mechanically-gated Ion Channels01:12

Mechanically-gated Ion Channels

Mechanically-gated ion channels are proteins found in eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell membranes that open in response to mechanical stress. Tension, compression, swelling, and shear stress can alter the conformation of the protein, opening a transmembrane channel that allows the passage of ions for signal transmission. In eukaryotes, mechanically-gated channels are distributed in several regions like the neurons, lungs, skin, bladder, and heart, where they play critical roles in numerous...
Chemical Synapses01:26

Chemical Synapses

Chemical synapses are specialized sites between two neurons or between a neuron and a non-neuronal cell like a muscle, glandular or sensory cell.
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...

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Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles
09:00

Cargo Loading onto Kinesin Powered Molecular Shuttles

Published on: November 3, 2010

A light-gated STOP-GO molecular shuttle.

Ali Coskun1, Douglas C Friedman, Hao Li

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3113, USA.

Journal of the American Chemical Society
|February 6, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers engineered molecular shuttles using light-operated gates. By incorporating methyl or fluorine groups into azobiphenyloxy units, they controlled the shuttle

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Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Molecular Machines
  • Photochemistry

Background:

  • Degenerate [2]rotaxanes feature dynamic equilibrium with low activation energy barriers for shuttling.
  • Speed bumps (steric/electrostatic barriers) can significantly increase these energy barriers.
  • The 4,4'-azobiphenyloxy (ABP) unit offers potential as a light-responsive gate in molecular systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To engineer light-controlled molecular shuttles by modifying ABP units.
  • To investigate the impact of steric (methyl groups) and electronic (fluorine atoms) modifications on shuttle gate function.
  • To demonstrate precise control over molecular shuttle dynamics using light and thermal energy.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesized ABP derivatives with four methyl groups (ABP-Me(4)) and four fluorine atoms (ABP-F(4)).
  • Utilized UV and visible light to modulate the gate's state.
  • Investigated the free energy of activation (DeltaG‡) for the shuttling process under different light conditions.

Main Results:

  • ABP-Me(4) resulted in a permanently closed gate, indicating effective steric hindrance.
  • ABP-F(4) demonstrated light-switchable behavior: closed by UV light, opened by visible light.
  • Light was shown to reversibly control the free energy barrier, enabling "STOP" and "GO" states.

Conclusions:

  • Tailored modifications of ABP units allow for the creation of light-addressable molecular gates.
  • Photochemical control over steric and electronic properties enables dynamic regulation of molecular shuttle movement.
  • This research provides a pathway for developing advanced molecular machines with programmable functions.