Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University , New York City, New York 10027, United States.
Nano Lett. 2018 Feb 14;18(2):1530-1534. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b05361. Epub 2018 Jan 24.
Biological materials and systems often dynamically self-assemble and disassemble, forming temporary structures as needed and allowing for dynamic responses to stimuli and changing environmental conditions. However, this dynamic interplay of localized component recruitment and release has been difficult to achieve in artificial molecular-scale systems, which are usually designed to have long-lasting, stable bonds. Here, we report the experimental realization of a molecular-scale system that dynamically assembles and disassembles its building blocks while retaining functionality. In our system, filaments (microtubules) recruit biomolecular motors (kinesins) to a surface engineered to allow for the reversible binding of the kinesin-1 motors. These recruited motors work to propel the cytoskeletal filaments along the surface. After the microtubules leave the motors behind, the trail of motors disassembles, releasing the motors back into solution. Engineering such dynamic systems may allow us to create materials that mimic the way in which biological systems achieve self-healing and adaptation.
生物材料和系统通常会动态地自组装和自拆卸，根据需要形成临时结构，并对刺激和不断变化的环境条件做出动态响应。然而，这种局部组件募集和释放的动态相互作用在人工分子尺度系统中很难实现，因为这些系统通常被设计为具有持久、稳定的键。在这里，我们报告了一个分子尺度系统的实验实现，该系统在保留功能的同时动态地组装和拆卸其构建块。在我们的系统中，细丝（微管）募集生物分子马达（驱动蛋白）到表面上，该表面经过工程设计以允许驱动蛋白-1 马达可逆结合。这些募集的马达用于沿着表面推动细胞骨架细丝。当微管将马达留在后面后，马达的轨迹会解体，将马达释放回溶液中。工程化这样的动态系统可能使我们能够创造出模仿生物系统实现自我修复和适应的材料。
