Dynamic and active proteins: Biomolecular motors in engineered nanostructures

Abstract

In Nature, proteins perform functions that go well beyond controlled selfassembly at the nano scale. They are the principal components of diverse “biological machines” that can self-assemble into dynamic aggregates that achieve the cold conversion of chemical energy into motion to realize complex functions involved in cell division, cellular transport and cell motility. Nowadays, we have identified many of the proteins involved in these “molecular machines” and know much about their biochemistry, structure and biophysical behavior. Additionally, we have a rich toolbox of resources to engineer the basic dynamic working units into nanostructures to provide them with motion and the capacity to manipulate, transport, separate or sense single molecules to develop in vitro sensors and bioassays. This chapter summarizes some of the progress made in incorporating bio-molecular motors and dynamic self-organizing proteins into protein based functional nanostructures.