Directional control of a processive molecular hopper

Intrigued by the potential of nanoscale machines, scientists have long attempted to control molecular motion. We monitored the individual 0.7-nanometer steps of a single molecular hopper as it moved in an electric field along a track in a nanopore controlled by a chemical ratchet. The hopper demonst...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 2018-08, Vol.361 (6405), p.908-912
Main Authors: Qing, Yujia, Ionescu, Sandra A, Pulcu, Gökçe Su, Bayley, Hagan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chain dynamics
Chemical fuels
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Directional control
DNA
Membrane proteins
Molecular motion
Organic chemistry
Porosity
Potential energy
Proteins
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Summary:Intrigued by the potential of nanoscale machines, scientists have long attempted to control molecular motion. We monitored the individual 0.7-nanometer steps of a single molecular hopper as it moved in an electric field along a track in a nanopore controlled by a chemical ratchet. The hopper demonstrated characteristics desired in a moving molecule: defined start and end points, processivity, no chemical fuel requirement, directional motion, and external control. The hopper was readily functionalized to carry cargos. For example, a DNA molecule could be ratcheted along the track in either direction, a prerequisite for nanopore sequencing.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.aat3872