Control of swarming of molecular robots

Abstract

Recently we demonstrated swarming of a self-propelled biomolecular motor system microtubule (MT)-kinesin where interactions among thousands of motile MTs were regulated in a highly programmable fashion by using DNA as a processor. However, precise control of this potential system is yet to be achieved to optimize the swarm behavior. In this work, we systematically controlled swarming of MTs on kinesin adhered surface by different physicochemical parameters of MT-kinesin and DNA. Tuning the length of DNA sequences swarming was precisely controlled with thermodynamic and kinetic feasibility. In addition, swarming was regulated using different concentration of DNA crosslinkers. Reversibility of swarming was further controlled by changing the concentration of strand displacement DNA signal allowing dissociation of swarm. The control over the swarm was accompanied by variable stiffness of MTs successfully, providing translational and circular motion. Moreover, the morphology of swarm was also found to be changed not only depending on the stiffness but also body length of MTs. Such detail study of precise control of swarming would provide new insights in developing a promising molecular swarm robotic system with desired functions.