Nitrogenase is the only enzyme capable of reducing N2 to NH3. This challenging reaction
requires the coordinated transfer of multiple electrons from the reductase, Fe-protein, to the …

Myosin motors power movements on actin filaments, whereas dynein and kinesin motors
power movements on microtubules. The mechanisms of these motor proteins differ, but, in …

Dynamic instability, the stochastic switching between growth and shrinkage, is essential for
microtubule function. This behavior is driven by GTP hydrolysis in the microtubule lattice and …

Proteins can exist in a trinity of structures: the ordered state, the molten globule, and the
random coil. The five following examples suggest that native protein structure can …

Chemically fueled autonomous molecular machines are catalysis-driven systems governed
by Brownian information ratchet mechanisms. One fundamental principle behind their …

Vigorous transport of cytoplasmic components along axons over substantial distances is
crucial for the maintenance of neuron structure and function. The transport of mitochondria …

Transport phenomena in spatially periodic systems far from thermal equilibrium are
considered. The main emphasis is put on directed transport in so-called Brownian motors …

Life implies movement. Most forms of movement in the living world are powered by tiny
protein machines known as molecular motors. Among the best known are motors that use …

The microtubule-based kinesin motors and actin-based myosin motors generate motions
associated with intracellular trafficking, cell division, and muscle contraction. Early studies …

Kinesin is a processive motor that takes 8.3-nm center-of-mass steps along microtubules for
each adenosine triphosphate hydrolyzed. Whether kinesin moves by a “hand-over-hand” or …