Dresden 2006 – scientific programme
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AKB: Biologische Physik
AKB 14: Molecular Motors
AKB 14.9: Talk
Tuesday, March 28, 2006, 18:15–18:30, ZEU 255
Biotemplated generation of motor protein nanotracks for the directed motion of microtubule transporters — •Cordula Reuther1, Robert Tucker2, and Stefan Diez1 — 1Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany — 2University of Florida, Gainsville, FL, USA
Biological machines have recently found an increasing number of applications in hybrid bionanodevices, where they fulfill tasks of biomolecular transport and manipulation in engineered environments. For example, microtubule-based gliding motility assays have been used to transport micro- and nanometer-sized objects. Spatial control of motility is a crucial criterion for the successful implementation of these nanoscale transport systems. So far, topographic channels with selective surface chemistry have proven to yield the most efficient guiding. However, the fabrication of such structures is labour-intensive and costly, and the channel width might limit the possible size of transported cargo.
Here, we present a method to deposit submicrometer-wide tracks of motor proteins (nanotracks) on unstructured surfaces. We use microtubules themselves as biological templates for the stamping and alignment of motor proteins. Compared to other soft lithography techniques like microcontact printing our approach circumvents protein denaturation due to drying and conformational changes caused by mechanical stress. The generated structures prove very efficient for the guiding of microtubules without topographical barriers. Furthermore, our assay comprises a novel means to study biologically relevant mechanical functions (such as microtubule-microtubule sliding) in vitro.