Biomimetic actuators: where technology and cell biology merge

M Knoblauch; W S Peters

doi:10.1007/s00018-004-4158-0

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Biomimetic actuators: where technology and cell biology merge

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Biomimetic actuators: where technology and cell biology merge

M Knoblauch and W S Peters

Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, Vol.61(19-20), pp.2497-2509

10/2004

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-004-4158-0

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/115473

PMID: 15526157

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Abstract

Humans

Models, Molecular

Molecular Motor Proteins - chemistry

Molecular Biology - methods

Kinesin - chemistry

Proton-Translocating ATPases - chemistry

Biotechnology - methods

DNA - chemistry

Animals

Macromolecular Substances - chemistry

Biomimetics

Models, Biological

Microtubules - ultrastructure

Actins - chemistry

Polymers - chemistry

Nucleic Acid Conformation

Cytoskeleton - chemistry

The structural and functional analysis of biological macromolecules has reached a level of resolution that allows mechanistic interpretations of molecular action, giving rise to the view of enzymes as molecular machines. This machine analogy is not merely metaphorical, as bio-analogous molecular machines actually are being used as motors in the fields of nanotechnology and robotics. As the borderline between molecular cell biology and technology blurs, developments in the engineering and material sciences become increasingly instructive sources of models and concepts for biologists. In this review, we provide a--necessarily selective--summary of recent progress in the usage of biological and biomimetic materials as actuators in artificial environments, focussing on motors built from DNA, classical cellular motor systems (tubulin/kinesin, actin/myosin), the rotary motor F1F0-ATPase and protein-based 'smart' materials.

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Title: Biomimetic actuators: where technology and cell biology merge
Creators: M Knoblauch - Fraunhofer-Institut für Molekularbiologie und Angewandte Okologie, Worringerweg 1, 54074, Aachen, Germany. michael.knoblauch@bot1.bio.uni-giessen.de
W S Peters
Publication Details: Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, Vol.61(19-20), pp.2497-2509
Academic Unit: Biological Sciences, School of
Publisher: Switzerland
Identifiers: 99900547879901842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article