A working hypothesis on the mechanism of molecular machinery

We have studied the dynamical behavior of a polymer chain with double minim a in the free energy, bathing in an isothermal environment with an external energy supply. Under the theoretical framework that the free energy depend s on the degree of energization in the chain, we show that these molecular chains show a limit-cycle oscillation. Such dynamic characteristics are dis cussed in relation to the functions of working proteins as the molecular ma chinery of life. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.