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Related Concept Videos

Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
Polymers02:34

Polymers

The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the properties that they exhibit. Additionally,...
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Eukaryotic cells have different motor proteins for transporting various cargo within the cell. These motor proteins differ based on the filament they associate with, the direction they move within the cell, and the type of cargo they transport. Motor proteins that associate with microtubules are known as microtubule-associated motor proteins. There are two families of microtubule-associated motor proteins —Kinesins and Dyneins. Both these proteins assist in the transport of cellular cargos...
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Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 25, 2026

Construction and Operation of a Light-driven Gold Nanorod Rotary Motor System
09:48

Construction and Operation of a Light-driven Gold Nanorod Rotary Motor System

Published on: June 30, 2018

Self-propelled polymer nanomotors.

Yu-Guo Tao1, Raymond Kapral

  • 1Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Chemphyschem : a European Journal of Chemical Physics and Physical Chemistry
|February 21, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Polymers can act as self-propelled nanomotors. Changes in solvent conditions cause polymers to extend or collapse, generating directed motion in catalytic reactions.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Nanotechnology
  • Chemical Engineering

Background:

  • Catalytic reactions can produce polymer chains with varying conformations.
  • Polymer behavior is influenced by solvent conditions, affecting chain extension and collapse.
  • Concentration gradients of product molecules can exert forces on polymers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To illustrate how polymer conformations change under different solvent conditions.
  • To demonstrate the self-propulsion mechanism of polymers in catalytic reactions.
  • To highlight the role of concentration gradients in polymer motion.

Main Methods:

  • Visual representation of instantaneous polymer conformations.
  • Comparison of polymer behavior in good (extended) and poor (collapsed) solvents.
  • Analysis of directed forces generated by product molecule concentration gradients.

Main Results:

  • Extended polymer conformations observed under good solvent conditions.
  • Collapsed polymer conformations observed under poor solvent conditions.
  • A directed force on the polymer arises from the product molecule concentration gradient.

Conclusions:

  • Polymer conformations are sensitive to solvent quality.
  • Product molecule concentration gradients can induce directed motion in polymers.
  • Polymers can function as self-propelled nanomotors in catalytic reaction environments.