Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2025
06:08
Biophysical Characterization of Flagellar Motor Functions
Published on: January 18, 2017
8.3K
Optimizing Efficiency and Motility of a Polyvalent Molecular Motor.
1Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Dr, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
Micromachines
|June 24, 2022
Summary
Optimizing burnt bridge ratchets (BBRs) for cellular transport requires understanding energy input. This study identifies optimal parameters like burn rate and substrate concentration for maximum BBR efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cellular Biology
- Molecular Machines
Background:
- Molecular motors are essential for intracellular transport.
- Burnt bridge ratchets (BBRs) are a class of motors converting spatial fluctuations into directed movement.
- Previous work optimized BBR motility, but energy efficiency remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To calculate the energy efficiency of a polyvalent hub burnt bridge ratchet (BBR).
- To identify optimal system parameters for maximizing BBR efficiency.
- To investigate the impact of substrate concentration, turnover rate, and force-dependent unbinding on efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a deterministic model to analyze BBR behavior.
- Calculated efficiency as a function of burn rate and substrate concentration.
- Incorporated force-dependent unbinding to assess its effect on efficiency.
Main Results:
- Optimal burn rate and substrate concentration exist for maximum BBR efficiency.
- Substrate turnover rate significantly influences motor efficiency.
- Including force-dependent bond breaking can enhance efficiency under specific conditions.
Conclusions:
- System parameters, including burn rate and substrate concentration, can be optimized for BBR efficiency.
- Substrate turnover rate is a critical factor for efficient motor function.
- Force-dependent unbinding is a relevant consideration for optimizing BBR performance in cellular environments.
Related Concept Videos
01:32Microtubule Associated Motor Proteins
8.5K
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...
8.5K
01:13Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility
5.4K
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....
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
5.4K
01:43The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
4.7K
In eukaryotic cells, cytoskeletal filaments such as actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments form a mesh-like cytoskeletal network. These filaments serve as tracks for transporting cellular cargo. Specialized motor proteins use the chemical energy stored in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for this transport. During interphase, microtubules are polarized, with the plus-end towards the cell periphery and the minus-end towards the cell center. Two microtubule-associated motor proteins,...
4.7K
01:24Microtubules in Cell Motility
3.5K
Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
3.5K
01:18Flagella and Motility in Bacteria
441
Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their structural organization and functioning exemplify sophisticated biological engineering, enabling bacterial survival and adaptability in diverse environments.Structure of the FlagellumA bacterial flagellum consists of three key components: the filament, the hook, and basal body. The filament, a long, helical structure composed of repeating...
441
01:15Overview of Myosin Structure and Function
4.7K
Myosins are a family of molecular motor proteins, first identified in the skeletal muscles, where they are responsible for muscle contraction. Along with their role in muscle contraction, these proteins also play a role in the intracellular transport of molecules and vesicles. There are twenty-four classes of myosins based on their domain sequence and organization. Of the twenty-four, six classes (Myosin I, Myosin II, Myosin V, Myosin VI, Myosin VII, and Myosin X) have been well...
4.7K