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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 10: Posters: Molecular Motors
BP 10.5: Poster
Tuesday, April 1, 2014, 09:30–12:30, P1
Synthetic molecular motors: a model study — •Amartya Sarkar and Alexander S. Mikhailov — Fritz Haber Institute, Faradayweg 4-6, Berlin 14195
A model of a synthetic molecular machine, whose operation closely resembles that of real molecular motors, is constructed and numerically investigated. The machine, described in terms of an elastic network, is able to perform cyclic conformational motions. These mechanochemical motions result from repetitive and sequential events - binding of a ligand, its conversion to a product, and the product release. The machine has two domains (arms) connected by a flexible hinge; while one of the arms is pinned, the other is able to perform cyclic swinging motions. Due to ratchet interactions between the swinging arm and a stiff filament, internal cyclic motions in the machine become converted into directed translational motion of the filament. Stochastic simulations of this model motor system under the conditions of both weak and strong coupling are performed. Further simulations with a stall force applied to the rigid filament have also been performed. Various statistical and mechanical properties of this model have been studied in detail.