Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Directly Acting Muscle Relaxants: Dantrolene and Botulinum Toxin01:26

Directly Acting Muscle Relaxants: Dantrolene and Botulinum Toxin

2.2K
Directly acting muscle relaxants like dantrolene and botulinum toxin (BoNT) have distinct mechanisms and applications. Dantrolene, a hydantoin derivative, acts on the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) in skeletal muscle cells. RYR1 are calcium channels present at the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. In response to excitation, they release calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum to the cytosol. Calcium promotes actin-myosin-mediated contraction of muscles.
The binding of dantrolene to the RYR1...
2.2K
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses01:31

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

1.2K
Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax muscle tone and alleviate painful muscle contractions. However, the choice of skeletal muscle relaxants depends on the duration of the surgical procedure in order to minimize potential side effects. Skeletal muscle relaxants like neuromuscular blocking agents [NMBAs] are commonly employed as adjuvants alongside general anesthetics in clinical settings. NMBAs are also used to maintain controlled ventilation during surgery of the larynx or pharynx...
1.2K
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants01:28

Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

3.6K
Skeletal muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that can reduce muscle stiffness and induce temporary paralysis to relieve pain. These agents can act centrally to reduce muscle tone or spasms in painful conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or spinal injuries; they are called antispasmodics or spasmolytics.
Peripherally acting skeletal muscle relaxants interfere with the neurotransmission at the neuromuscular end plate to induce paralysis during...
3.6K
Muscle Contraction01:15

Muscle Contraction

76.4K
 
76.4K
The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells01:10

The Role of Actin and Myosin in Non-muscle Cells

4.7K
Actin and myosin or actomyosin filaments also play a significant role in cells other than those involved in muscle contraction (which occurs within the sarcomere of muscle cells). The mechanism of non-muscle cell contractile bundles was first observed in Dictyostelium and Acanthamoeba. In non-muscle cells, two bundles are commonly found: stress fibers and actomyosin adherence belts. These contractile bundles are smaller and less organized than the ones found in muscle cells. They  are held...
4.7K
Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction01:16

Actin and Myosin in Muscle Contraction

26.5K
Actin and myosin are contractile proteins that form the sarcomere found in skeletal muscle tissues for regulating muscle contraction. Actin, a globular contractile protein, interacts with myosin for muscle contraction. The skeletal tissue appears striped or striated under a microscope due to the repeated arrangement of contractile proteins actin and myosin along the length of myofibrils. Dark A bands and light I bands repeat along myofibrils, and the alignment of myofibrils in the cell causes...
26.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Clinical evaluation of photochromic nanoparticle tattoo ink: safety, tolerability, and performance of rewritable intradermal implants.

Journal of nanobiotechnology·2026
Same author

Granular Extracellular Matrix (gECM) Hydrogels Enable Distinct Composition and Mechanics Across Tissue Types for Translation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Synergistic Dual Slip-Link Toughening of a Water-Rich Double Network Hydrogel Combining Slide-Ring and Highly Entangled Networks.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

LEGO® as a versatile platform for building reconfigurable low-cost lab equipment.

PloS one·2025
Same author

Micromechanics and damage in slide-ring networks.

Physical review. E·2023
Same author

Pressure-Sensitive Supramolecular Adhesives Based on Lipoic Acid and Biofriendly Dynamic Cyclodextrin and Polyrotaxane Cross-Linkers.

ACS applied materials & interfaces·2023
Same journal

High-Performance CH-Series Non-Fullerene Acceptors for Organic Photovoltaics.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Design Principles for Negative Thermal Expansion in Two-Dimensional Materials.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Main Group Redox Catalysis: New Frontiers with Germanium and Tin.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Taming Irreversibility in sp<sup>2</sup>-Carbon-Conjugated COFs from Polycrystalline Powders to Single Crystals and Thin Films.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Electroactive Imidazolium Ionic Liquids in Organic Synthesis.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Calix[4]resorcinarene-Based Porous Organic Cages: Synthesis and Applications.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Multi-exon Skipping Using Cocktail Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Canine X-linked Muscular Dystrophy
10:30

Multi-exon Skipping Using Cocktail Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Canine X-linked Muscular Dystrophy

Published on: May 24, 2016

19.7K

Rotaxane-based molecular muscles.

Carson J Bruns1, J Fraser Stoddart

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University , 2145 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60201-3113, United States.

Accounts of Chemical Research
|June 1, 2014
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers are developing rotaxane-based molecular muscles, inspired by biological systems, to create artificial machines capable of directed motion and force generation. These molecular switches offer a versatile platform for energy transduction with potential for macroscopic applications.

More Related Videos

Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins
08:04

Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins

Published on: January 26, 2019

8.2K
Cardiac Muscle-cell Based Actuator and Self-stabilizing Biorobot - PART 1
11:22

Cardiac Muscle-cell Based Actuator and Self-stabilizing Biorobot - PART 1

Published on: July 11, 2017

7.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Multi-exon Skipping Using Cocktail Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Canine X-linked Muscular Dystrophy
10:30

Multi-exon Skipping Using Cocktail Antisense Oligonucleotides in the Canine X-linked Muscular Dystrophy

Published on: May 24, 2016

19.7K
Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins
08:04

Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins

Published on: January 26, 2019

8.2K
Cardiac Muscle-cell Based Actuator and Self-stabilizing Biorobot - PART 1
11:22

Cardiac Muscle-cell Based Actuator and Self-stabilizing Biorobot - PART 1

Published on: July 11, 2017

7.2K

Area of Science:

  • Supramolecular Chemistry
  • Nanotechnology
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Mechanically Interlocked Molecules (MIMs) like rotaxanes and catenanes function as nanoscale molecular switches with controlled movement.
  • Molecular machines are essential in biological systems, and artificial molecular machines (AMMs) are sought after for directed motion and work.
  • Muscle tissue serves as a model for AMMs, utilizing organized molecular machines (myosin) and filaments (actin) for force generation and movement.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore rotaxane architectures as 'molecular muscles' capable of contractile and extensile motion.
  • To review molecular recognition motifs and stimuli used to actuate these rotaxane-based molecular muscles.
  • To assess progress in integrating and scaling these motions for potential applications in energy transduction.

Main Methods:

  • Classification of rotaxane molecular muscles into 'daisy chain', 'press', and 'cage' architectures.
  • Analysis of actuation mechanisms driven by various stimuli including ions, pH, light, solvents, and redox reactions.
  • Evaluation of applications at molecular and mesoscale levels, including adjustable receptors and amplified force generation.

Main Results:

  • Demonstration of three distinct rotaxane molecular muscle architectures.
  • Successful actuation of these muscles using a diverse range of chemical and physical stimuli.
  • Integration of rotaxane muscles into materials for amplified motion and force, showing potential for macroscopic applications.

Conclusions:

  • Rotaxanes provide a versatile platform for directed force and motion transduction due to tunable mechanostereochemistry and diverse stimuli responsiveness.
  • Progress in scaling up molecular motions suggests feasibility for future macroscopic applications of artificial muscles.
  • Further development of rotaxane-based systems is crucial for realizing genuine artificial molecular machines.