Abstract

Biopolymer Multiplication, Path Control, Functionality and Longevity in Actin-Myosin based Nanodevices for Biosensing and Biocomputation

Alf Mansson, Professor, Linnaeus University

Biomolecular myosin motors utilize the cellular fuel ATP in their interaction with actin filaments to produce cellular motion and forces including muscle contraction and cytoplasmic streaming in giant plant cells. Both isolated motors and actin filaments have been chemically and genetically engineered for use in nanotechnological applications. In the devices, myosin motor fragments are immobilized on suitably derivatized nanoscale tracks for directed movement of actin filaments in network based biological computation or to separate analyte molecules and accumulate them on a detector area in biosensing. For greater versatility of such nanodevices it is important to achieve improved function of the isolated motor system (increased velocity and larger fraction of motile filaments) as well as extended shelf-life during storage and extended longevity during device operation. For several applications it is also desirable to exponentially increase the number of filaments during operation and to precisely and remotely control their exact path through the network. Here, I describe recent progress in these regards achieved by adjustments both of the biological system, the fluid environment and the nanofabrication procedure. I will consider the importance of improved longevity and function as well as achievement of the goals of effective filament multiplication and path control in the context of upscaled and improved molecular motors based biosensing and biocomputation nanodevices.