Open AccessA Self-Regulating DNA Rotaxane Linear Actuator Driven by Chemical Energy
Author(s) -
Ze Yu,
Mathias Centola,
Julián Valero,
Michael Matthies,
Petr Šulc,
Michael Famulok
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of the american chemical society
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.115
H-Index - 612
eISSN - 1520-5126
pISSN - 0002-7863
DOI - 10.1021/jacs.1c06226
Subject(s) - rotaxane , chemistry , molecular machine , terminator (solar) , transcription (linguistics) , dna , catenane , axle , biophysics , promoter , molecular motor , actuator , stereochemistry , nanotechnology , gene , crystallography , molecule , biochemistry , physics , gene expression , biology , computer science , materials science , artificial intelligence , philosophy , linguistics , crystal structure , supramolecular chemistry , thermodynamics , ionosphere , organic chemistry , astronomy
Nature-inspired molecular machines can exert mechanical forces by controlling and varying the distance between two molecular subunits in response to different inputs. Here, we present an automated molecular linear actuator composed of T7 RNA polymerase (T7RNAP) and a DNA [2]rotaxane. A T7 promoter region and terminator sequences are introduced into the rotaxane axle to achieve automated and iterative binding and detachment of T7RNAP in a self-controlled fashion. Transcription by T7RNAP is exploited to control the release of the macrocycle from a single-stranded (ss) region in the T7 promoter to switch back and forth from a static state (hybridized macrocycle) to a dynamic state (movable macrocycle). During transcription, the T7RNAP keeps restricting the movement range on the axle available for the interlocked macrocycle and prevents its return to the promotor region. Since this range is continuously depleted as T7RNAP moves along, a directional and active movement of the macrocycle occurs. When it reaches the transcription terminator, the polymerase detaches, and the system can reset as the macrocycle moves back to hybridize again to the ss-promoter docking site. The hybridization is required for the initiation of a new transcription cycle. The rotaxane actuator runs autonomously and repeats these self-controlled cycles of transcription and movement as long as NTP-fuel is available.