Mechanism for a Directional, Processive, and Reversible DNA Motor

A bipedal motor mechanism that coordinates the chemical and mechanical cycles of two-identical feet can be generalized to obtain energy from hydrolysis of a DNA or RNA fuel was demonstrated. The motors that can operate continuously on a reusable track require a separate fuel, linear motion and can be coupled to ATP hydrolysis by using a motor architecture. The interaction between fuel and motor can be followed by labeling a fuel at the 5 inches end with FAM and at the 3 inches with TAMRA, thereby decreasing the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). The mechanism derived has the properties required to create a chemically fueled molecular motor that is both directional and processive, and the directional bias of these motors can be reversed by changing the fuel.