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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Production of Dynein and Kinesin Motor Ensembles on DNA Origami Nanostructures for Single Molecule Observation

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Published on: October 15, 2019

Active Mechanical Threading by a Molecular Motor.

Nicolai N Bach¹, Verena Josef¹, Harald Maid¹

¹Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Str. 10, 91058, Erlangen, Germany.

Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)

|February 11, 2022

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces a macrocyclic molecular motor that achieves precise nanoscale manipulation by threading a flexible chain. This motor translates unidirectional rotation into directional translation, mimicking weaving for potential "molecular knitting".

Keywords:

Hemithioindigo Indigoids Molecular Machines Molecular Motors Photochemistry

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Last Updated: Oct 4, 2025

Production of Dynein and Kinesin Motor Ensembles on DNA Origami Nanostructures for Single Molecule Observation

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Published on: October 15, 2019

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Published on: March 13, 2019

Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions

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Published on: January 18, 2017

Area of Science:

Supramolecular Chemistry
Nanotechnology
Molecular Machines

Background:

Molecular motors convert energy into directed motion for nanoscale tasks.
Efficient transmission of motor motion is crucial for powering molecular events.

Purpose of the Study:

To present a novel macrocyclic molecular motor capable of repetitive molecular threading.
To demonstrate the translation of unidirectional motor rotation into unidirectional linear motion.
To elucidate the mechanism of active mechanical threading.

Main Methods:

Design and synthesis of a macrocyclic molecular motor.
Utilizing a flexible tetraethylene glycol chain for threading.
Mechanical and mechanistic analysis of the threading process.

Main Results:

The molecular motor successfully performed repetitive threading of the flexible chain through the macrocycle.
Unidirectional motor rotation was directly translated into unidirectional chain translation.
The threading mechanism was identified as a combined helix inversion and threading event.

Conclusions:

A macrocyclic molecular motor was developed for controlled nanoscale manipulation.
The motor's function mimics macroscopic weaving, paving the way for "molecular knitting".
This work advances the field of molecular machines and their applications.