NANO-MANIPULATION OF ACTOMYOSIN MOLECULAR MOTORS IN-VITRO - A NEW WORKING PRINCIPLE

Techniques have been recently developed that allow the direct observat ion of single actin filaments and their manipulation, using glass micr oneedles, in the nanometer range. Further development of these techniq ues has made possible the detection of subpiconewton-level forces of i ndividual myosin heads. This in vitro motility model is sensitive in t he submillisecond range and has allowed us to determine the force gene ration of an actomyosin motor directly at the molecular level. The res ults have led to a new conceptual framework for chemo-mechanical energ y transduction in the molecular motor.