Molecular Motors
Molecular motors are protein nano-machines that convert chemical energy into directed motion. Prominent examples are muscle motors and intra-cellular transporters like kinesins. We use single molecule techniques, like optical tweezers and single molecule fluorescence to study the motion motor proteins. We measure characteristic properties of these motors, like step size and coupling ratio (number of ATPs per step). Our goal is to understand these nanomachines and explore their potential for future applications in nano-science and technology.
