Five minutes in the life of a molecular nanomachine

Five minutes in the life of a molecular nanomachine https://i2.wp.com/www.eresviral.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Cinco-minutos-en-la-vida-de-una-nanomáquina-molecular.jpg?fit=103%2C146&ssl=1

Five minutes in the life of a molecular nanomachine







In a molecular nanomachine, a ring-shaped molecule located around a linear molecule moves between two portions of that linear guide, called stations. The thermodynamics of these nanomachines has been studied by many, however, information on the mechanics of a single molecule had not been studied in detail to date.



Scientists from IMDEA Nanoscience and the University of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain) -directed by Emilio Pérez and Borja Ibarra- have designed a novel system that connects optical tweezers with synthetic molecular systems to isolate molecular nanomachines and measure their performance in biocompatible conditions . The system studied was a molecular switch; This system consists of a macrocycle (ring molecule) of tetraamide linked to a strand of oligoethylenglycol (linear molecule) with two diphenylethyl groups at the end of the axis (acting as plugs); and two fumaramide and succinic amide-ester stations. In these stations up to 4 hydrogen bonds can be established with the macrocycle. The nanomachine is linked to two microspheres by DNA molecules. These microspheres are trapped with light by the technique of optical tweezers, which control and measure the random movement of the macrocycle between the two stations. The excellent sensitivity of the optical tweezers, and the robustness of this method have allowed the authors to quantify with extraordinary sensitivity the forces of piconewton (



For the first time, the authors describe the Brownian movement of a molecular nanomachine in real time and also, they do it in biocompatible conditions. The results have also revealed the mechanical force necessary to displace the ring of each station of the molecular switch, the response of its operation to external mechanical forces, and a detailed map of the energy profile of its operation.







The molecular nanomachine is linked to the polystyrene microspheres by two DNA strands. (Image: Scixel)



The extensive information provided by this experiment "can not be obtained from other techniques, and provides a vision of the functioning of a single synthetic molecular machine under almost physiological conditions, in water and with a pH of 7.5" says Emilio Pérez. For example, it has been obtained that energy profiles reveal a distance to the actual transition state that is softer than previously thought; the asymmetry of the curve measured below and above the force of coexistence, and the population of each state based on extension measures in real time.



The study combines the discoveries awarded with the Nobel prizes of Chemistry in 2016 and of Physics in 2018, integrating the molecular machinery and the optical tweezers in the same experiment. Borja Ibarra comments: "We hope that this technique can be applied to the study of the operational mechanics of other molecular synthetic systems, to directly compare their operation with that of biological molecular motors." The results of this research are relevant for both the field of Nanotechnology and Biology, since many biochemical functions are based on molecular machines.



Emilio M. Pérez and Borja Ibarra are researchers at IMDEA Nanoscience. The work is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration between IMDEA Nanoscience and the University of Barcelona: supramolecular chemistry, biochemistry, molecular biophysics and statistical physics. The research has been co-financed by the "Severo Ochoa" program of Excellence in Research Centers. (Source: IMDEA)

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