Membrane Transport, Molecular Machines, and Maxwell's Demon

Abstract

The Cover Feature shows a Maxwell's Demon opening a trapdoor in a lipid-bilayer membrane to allow ions to move in one direction but not the other. This Concept underpins ratchet mechanisms, which have been used to develop small-molecule machines, and might soon enable the construction of artificial transmembrane pumps. More information can be found in the Concept by Stefan Borsley.