Molecular motor

Abstract

A molecular motor in which multiple concentric cylinders (or nested cones) rotate around a common longitudinal axis. Opposing complementary surfaces of the cylinders or cones are coated with complementary motor protein pairs (such as actin and myosin). The actin and myosin interact with one another in the presence of ATP to rotate the cylinders or cones relative to one another, and this rotational energy is harnessed to produce work. The concentration of ATP and the number of nested cylinders or cones can be used to control the rotational speed of the motor. The length of the cylinders can also be used to control the power generated by the motor. In another embodiment, the molecular motor includes at least two annular substrates wherein one annular substrate is coated with a first motor protein and the other annular substrate is coated with a second motor protein. The first and second motor proteins interact with each other to move the second annular relative to the first annular substrate.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A molecular motor comprising:
 a stationary substrate defining a first planar surface coated with a first motor molecule;   a terminal annular substrate defining a first planar surface coated with a second motor molecule; and   at least one intermediate annular substrate interposed between the stationary substrate and the terminal annular substrate, the intermediate annular substrate defining a first planar surface coated with the second motor molecule and an obverse second surface coated with the first motor molecule;   wherein the stationary substrate, terminal annular substrate, and intermediate annular substrate are arranged such that each substrate surface coated with the first motor molecule is adjacent to a substrate surface coated with the second motor molecule.   
     
     
         2 . The molecular motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first motor molecule comprises myosin and the second motor molecule comprises actin, which can interact with the myosin to move the intermediate annular substrate and the terminal annular substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The molecular motor of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate annular substrate and the terminal annular substrate each comprise at least two concentric rings. 
     
     
         4 . The molecular motor of  claim 2 , further comprising a driven member rotatable by the interaction between the intermediate annular substrate and the terminal annular substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The molecular motor of  claim 4 , wherein the driven member is an internal shaft or cylinder in the motor. 
     
     
         6 . The molecular moor of  claim 1 , wherein the motor has a longitudinal axis of rotation, the first motor molecule and the second motor molecule is each directionally aligned with respect to each other such that orientation of the second motor molecule directs movement of the terminal annular substrate, the second motor molecule being directionally aligned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of rotation. 
     
     
         7 . The molecular motor of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second motor molecules are proteins. 
     
     
         8 . A molecular motor comprising:
 a first layer of a plurality of concentric first rings, each first ring defining a planar surface coated with a first motor molecule; and   a second layer of a plurality of concentric second rings, each second ring defining a planar surface coated with a second motor molecule that interacts with the first motor molecule to move the second rings relative to the first rings.   
     
     
         9 . The molecular motor of  claim 8 , wherein the concentric first rings and the concentric second rings are rotatable about a longitudinal axis, and the first layer is axially adjacent to the second layer along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The molecular motor according to  claim 9 , further comprising a first gap between each adjacent first ring of the first layer and a second gap between each adjacent second ring of the second layer, wherein the first layer and the second layer are arranged relative to each other such that each first gap is radially offset from each second gap. 
     
     
         11 . The molecular motor according to  claim 8 , further comprising at least one additional layer of a plurality of concentric third rings, each third ring defining a first planar surface coated with the first motor molecule and a second planar surface coated with the second motor molecule, wherein the first layer, second layer, and additional layer are arranged such that each planar substrate surface coated with the first motor molecule is adjacent to a planar substrate surface coated with the second motor molecule. 
     
     
         12 . The molecular motor of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second motor molecules are proteins. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a molecular motor, comprising:
 providing a first annular substrate defining a planar surface;   providing a second annular substrate defining a planar surface;   adhering a first motor molecule to the planar surface of the first annular substrate;   adhering a second motor molecule to the planar surface of the second annular substrate; and   positioning the first annular substrate relative to the second annular substrate so that the first motor molecule can interact with the second motor molecule to move the first annular substrate relative to the second annular substrate.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second motor molecules are proteins. 
     
     
         15 . A molecular motor comprising:
 first two dimensional arrays of a first motor molecule; and   second two dimensional arrays of a second motor molecule that interact with the first motor molecule to move directionally relatively to the first array;   wherein the first and second arrays of motor molecules are in sufficiently close contact to interact and move the second array relative to the first array and there are multiple nested first and second arrays that interact with one another to directionally move the first and second arrays relative to one another.   
     
     
         16 . The molecular motor of  claim 13 , wherein the first and second motor molecules are proteins.