assembling-molecular-shuttles-powered-by-reversibly-attached-kinesins

Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins

This protocol describes how to create kinesin-powered molecular shuttles with a weak and reversible attachment of the kinesins to the surface. In contrast ...

Columbia University

Columbia College

A proximity effect has been invoked to explain the enhanced activity of enzyme cascades on DNA scaffolds. Using the cascade reaction carried out by glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase as a model system, here we study the kinetics of the cascade reaction when the enzymes are free in solution, when they are conjugated to each other and when a competing enzyme is present. No proximity effect is found, which is in agreement with models predicting that the rapidly diffusing hydrogen peroxide intermediate is well mixed. We suggest that the reason for the activity enhancement of enzymes localized by DNA scaffolds is that the pH near the surface of the negatively charged DNA nanostructures is lower than that in the bulk solution, creating a more optimal pH environment for the anchored enzymes. Our findings challenge the notion of a proximity effect and provide new insights into the role of DNA scaffolds.

Proximity does not contribute to activity enhancement in the glucose oxidase-horseradish peroxidase cascade.

Biological materials and systems often dynamically self-assemble and disassemble, forming temporary structures as needed and allowing for dynamic responses to stimuli and changing environmental conditions. However, this dynamic interplay of localized component recruitment and release has been difficult to achieve in artificial molecular-scale systems, which are usually designed to have long-lasting, stable bonds. Here, we report the experimental realization of a molecular-scale system that dynamically assembles and disassembles its building blocks while retaining functionality. In our system, filaments (microtubules) recruit biomolecular motors (kinesins) to a surface engineered to allow for the reversible binding of the kinesin-1 motors. These recruited motors work to propel the cytoskeletal filaments along the surface. After the microtubules leave the motors behind, the trail of motors disassembles, releasing the motors back into solution. Engineering such dynamic systems may allow us to create materials that mimic the way in which biological systems achieve self-healing and adaptation.

Stanislav Tsitkov

Department of Biomedical Engineering

Columbia University

Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins

Stanislav Tsitkov

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Columbia University

Assembling Molecular Shuttles Powered by Reversibly Attached Kinesins

Department of Biomedical Engineering