Groundbreaking Advancements in Nanotechnology: A Microscopic Motor Measuring One-Ten Thousandth of a Millimeter

Groundbreaking Advancements in Nanotechnology: A Microscopic Motor Measuring One-Ten Thousandth of a Millimeter

Researchers led by the University of Bonn have developed an innovative nanomotor, which incorporates an RNA polymerase to induce rhythmic movements. The findings have been published in the esteemed journal, Nature Nanotechnology.

Mechanism and Functional Analogy

The newly designed motor is analogous to a grip-strengthening device used for hand exercises, but is roughly a million times smaller in scale. The structure consists of two handles connected by a spring, forming a V-shaped configuration.

In the case of a hand grip trainer, the handles are squeezed together against the tension of the spring and subsequently released. Professor Dr. Michael Famulok, from the Life and Medical Sciences (LIMES) Institute at the University of Bonn, elucidated that their nanomotor utilizes a similar principle; however, the handles are pulled together rather than compressed.

To achieve this, the scientists have employed a mechanism intrinsic to cellular biology. Each cell contains a repository of genetic blueprints for various proteins essential to its functions. When a cell needs a specific protein, it accesses the requisite blueprint. The transcript of this blueprint is created by RNA polymerases.

Role of RNA Polymerases in Movement Dynamics

RNA polymerases are responsible for transcribing DNA strands. For the nanomotor, an RNA polymerase is affixed to one of the handles and a DNA strand is stretched between the two. As the polymerase moves along this strand, it incrementally pulls the second handle closer to the first, thus compressing the spring.

Operating Cycle of the Motor

Near the end of the DNA strand is a termination sequence that instructs the polymerase to release its grip. This allows the spring to expand, separating the handles and setting the stage for the next cycle of operation. Mathias Centola, a prominent researcher in Prof. Famulok’s team, confirmed that the motor executes a pulsating action.

Energy Source for the Motor

The motor is fueled by nucleotide triphosphates. During the RNA transcription process, energy is released when two of the three phosphate groups in the nucleotide are removed. This energy is then used for operational activities.

The motor’s performance has been verified by partners based in Michigan, and computational simulations have been conducted by a research group in Arizona. These findings may enable customization of the motor’s pulsation rates.

Moreover, the researchers indicated that this nanomotor can be integrated with other nanostructures, potentially allowing it to move across surfaces. Additional plans include the development of a clutch mechanism to regulate the motor’s activity. While it could eventually become the core component of complex nanodevices, Prof. Famulok acknowledged that substantial work is still needed to reach that stage.

Additional Contributions and Funding

The project also involved the Max Planck Institutes in Bonn and Frankfurt, the University of Michigan, and Arizona State University. Financial support was provided by several organizations, including the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Max Planck Society, the University of Bonn, the US National Science Foundation, the European Research Council, and the US National Institutes of Health.

For further information on this groundbreaking research, consult the article “A rhythmically pulsing leaf-spring DNA-origami nanoengine that drives a passive follower,” published on October 19, 2023, in Nature Nanotechnology. DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01516-x.

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