In silico design of guiding tracks for molecular shuttles powered by motor proteins

Abstract

Living cells utilize motor proteins, which are biological molecular machines, to maintain their functions. For instance, a motor protein carries a cargo along a cytoskeletal filament, delivering the cargo to its destination. Molecular shuttles powered by motor proteins are bio-inspired material transport systems for Lab-on-a-Chip devices. In the molecular shuttle systems, cytoskeletal filaments loading cargos are transported by motor proteins along microfabricated guiding tracks.