Another Programmable Molecular Machine

Here's some very useful and general-purpose molecular machine research. A DNA molecule has been attached to a protein, and the behavior of the protein has been changed by changing the stiffness of the DNA. That means that individual protein molecules can be turned "on" and "off" -- activated or deactivated, by adding a string of DNA coded to bind to the one attached to the protein. They believe their method could work with virtually any protein.

The rest of this is my speculation, but none of it seems very difficult to do. If different DNA strings are attached to protein molecules, they could be controlled independently -- even if the protein molecule is the same in each case. DNA strands, once bound, can be removed by yet another DNA strand. So this means that a number of these protein molecules could be turned on and off, repeatedly, independently. Attaching another DNA strand to the proteins could provide a "handle" for binding them in a DNA matrix. There are several ways that specifically tagged proteins could be placed at preselected locations in the matrix. Then you'd have a spatially addressable array of proteins that could be turned on and off individually. If those proteins are enzymes, they could then perform spatially selectable chemical operations. The position wouldn't be atomically precise, and the rate of programming would be low. But we're getting closer every day to basic molecular manufacturing...

Chris

Comments

[Richard Jones]

But we're getting closer every day to basic molecular manufacturing.... The more obvious lesson is how powerful the soft and wet approach to nanotechnology is proving to be.

[sheikh]

sir you are site is good .sir, would you please send me notes on nanotechnology from basics onwards. i am very thankful to you.

[Mike Treder, CRN]

Sheikh, start with "What is Nanotechnology", then read all of our Science & Technology Essays from 2004 and 2005, and after that let us know if you have any specific questions.