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Microscopic reversibility as the organizing principle of molecular machines

Nature Nanotechnology volume 7, pages 684–688 (2012)Cite this article

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Biological motors and pumps are equilibrium devices that couple chemical, electrical and mechanical processes in an environment that is far from equilibrium. Recognition of the key role played by microscopic reversibility in their operation is a first step towards rational design of artificial molecular devices.

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Figure 1: Illustration of an ATP hydrolysis powered molecular walker.
Figure 2: An information ratchet that uses allosteric interactions as a mechanism for feedback between the opening and closing of gates and the position of a ring on a polymeric track.

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Acknowledgements

I am grateful for very useful correspondence with Imre Derenyi, Chang-Bong Hyeon, Peter Moore, Dwayne Miller, Ayusman Sen, Sean Sun, and for useful discussions with Nicki Curthoys.

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  1. R. Dean Astumian is at the Department of Physics, The University of Maine, 5709, Bennett Hall, Orono, Maine 04469-5709, USA,

    R. Dean Astumian

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Correspondence to R. Dean Astumian.

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Astumian, R. Microscopic reversibility as the organizing principle of molecular machines. Nature Nanotech 7, 684–688 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2012.188

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