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

Mechanical Protein Functions01:58

Mechanical Protein Functions

5.0K
Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force. 
5.0K
Protein Dynamics in Living Cells01:19

Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

2.2K
Different fluorescence-based techniques are used to study the protein dynamics in living cells. These techniques include FRAP, FRET, and PET.
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
2.2K
Kinematic Equations - II01:17

Kinematic Equations - II

9.6K
The second kinematic equation expresses the final position of an object in terms of its initial position, the distance traveled with the initial constant velocity, and the distance traveled due to a change in velocity. Similar to the first kinematic equation, this equation is also only valid when the acceleration is constant throughout the motion of an object.
Suppose a car merges into freeway traffic on a 200 m long ramp. If its initial velocity is 10 m/s and it accelerates at 2 m/s2, then the...
9.6K
Kinematic Equations - I01:26

Kinematic Equations - I

10.7K
When an object moves with constant acceleration, the velocity of the object changes at a constant rate throughout the motion. The kinematic equations of motions are derived for such cases where the acceleration of the object is constant. The first kinematic equation gives an insight into the relationship between velocity, acceleration, and time. We can see, for example:
10.7K
Kinematic Equations - III01:18

Kinematic Equations - III

7.7K
The first two kinematic equations have time as a variable, but the third kinematic equation is independent of time. This equation expresses final velocity as a function of the acceleration and distance over which it acts. The fourth kinematic equation does not have an acceleration term and provides the final position of the object at time t in terms of the initial and final velocities. This equation is useful when the value of the constant acceleration is unknown.
Using the kinematic equations,...
7.7K
Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

5.3K
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....
5.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

The NMR Exchange Format (NEF): Specification and Applications.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

pH-Dependent Excited-State Dynamics of a Large Stokes Shift Photobasic Complex.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Coarse-grained torsional potential of polypeptide backbone by fragment molecular orbital method: Dependence on coarse-graining scheme.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026
Same author

Implementation of Replica-Averaged Restraints from Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurement with UNRES Coarse Grained Model of Polypeptide Chains.

Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)·2025
Same author

Improvement of Protein Structure Modeling Upon Coarse Grained Force Field Augmentation with Multitorsional Potentials Demonstrates the Significance of Along-Chain Coupling of Local Conformational States in Protein Folding.

The journal of physical chemistry. B·2025
Same author

Hydrophobic and Electrostatic Sequence Patterning Directs Hierarchical Assembly of Phenylalanine-Rich Oligopeptides.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
09:10

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.4K

Long-Time Dynamics of Selected Molecular-Motor Components Using a Physics-Based Coarse-Grained Approach.

Adam Liwo1, Maciej Pyrka1,2, Cezary Czaplewski1

  • 1Faculty of Chemistry, University of Gdańsk, Fahrenheit Union of Universities, Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.

Biomolecules
|June 28, 2023
PubMed
Summary

Molecular motors convert thermal energy into rotation. This study shows rotatory motors can achieve net motion without external energy input, highlighting their structural importance for biological transport.

Keywords:
UNRES force fieldcoarse grainingfalling cat motionmolecular dynamicsmolecular motors

More Related Videos

Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion
09:17

Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion

Published on: March 1, 2022

3.2K
An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
11:03

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids

Published on: December 4, 2017

8.6K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics
09:10

Reconstituting and Characterizing Actin-Microtubule Composites with Tunable Motor-Driven Dynamics and Mechanics

Published on: August 25, 2022

3.4K
Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion
09:17

Structure-Based Simulation and Sampling of Transcription Factor Protein Movements along DNA from Atomic-Scale Stepping to Coarse-Grained Diffusion

Published on: March 1, 2022

3.2K
An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids
11:03

An Analog Macroscopic Technique for Studying Molecular Hydrodynamic Processes in Dense Gases and Liquids

Published on: December 4, 2017

8.6K

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Structural Biology
  • Molecular Machines

Background:

  • Molecular motors are crucial for intracellular transport and movement.
  • Rotatory motors are highly efficient biological machines.
  • Understanding their dynamics is key to deciphering cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the long-term dynamics of specific rotatory molecular motors.
  • To explore the conversion of thermal motion into net rotation.
  • To elucidate the role of motor structure in biological transport.

Main Methods:

  • Microcanonical and canonical molecular dynamics simulations.
  • Utilized the coarse-grained UNRES force field and a lipid-membrane model.
  • Simulated millisecond time scales for designed and natural rotatory motors (4YY2, 6SD5, 2BL2).

Main Results:

  • Rotational motion observed with zero total angular momentum in microcanonical simulations.
  • Thermal motions converted into net rotation (ratcheting) in canonical simulations for 6SD5 and 2BL2.
  • Rotation direction and extent were dependent on initial conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Rotatory molecular motors can harness thermal oscillations for net rotational motion.
  • ATP hydrolysis likely dictates rotation direction and magnitude.
  • Motor structure is fundamental for enabling biological movement and transport.