Nanosystem Integration by Surface Charge Modification of Microtubules and Micro/Nano Fabrications

Project Gist

Molecular nano systems realized by electro-mechanical designing of motor proteins.

Keywords

Kinesin, Microtubule, Microfluidic device, Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS), Micro Total Analysis Systems (MicroTAS)

Background, Purpose, and Project Achievements

Many kinds of motor proteins are involved in intracellular transport in a live cell. Kinesin that moves on a cytoskeleton, microtubule, is known to have motility in vitro, and can be utilized as nanoactuator for molecular transport. In this research project, we designed the surface charge density of microtubules and microfluidic devices that enables microtubule gliding on a kinesin-coated glass surface. We realized two distinctive microtubule gliding directions, which will contribute to propose a new molecular nano system.

Future Prospects

In this research project, we designed the surface charge density of microtubules. As a next topic, we plan to modify the rigidity of microtubules that will also modulate a curvature of microtubule trajectories in an electric field.

Figures

Principal Investigator