Stretching and transporting DNA molecules using motor proteins

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Stefan Diez - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Cordula Reuther - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Cerasela Dinu - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Ralf Seidel - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Michael Mertig - , Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials Dresden (Author)
  • Wolfgang Pompe - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Jonathon Howard - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)

Abstract

Inside cells, motor proteins perform a variety of complex tasks including the transport of vesicles and the separation of chromosomes. We demonstrate a novel use of such biological machines for the mechanical manipulation of nanostructures in a cell-free environment. Specifically, we show that purified kinesin motors in combination with chemically modified microtubules can transport and stretch individual λ-phage DNA molecules across a surface. This technique, in contrast to existing ones, enables the parallel yet individual manipulation of many molecules and may offer an efficient mechanism for assembling multidimensional DNA structures.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1251-1254
Number of pages4
JournalNano letters
Volume3
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2003
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-0750-8515/work/142235596