NER: Energy Transport in Microtubules

提案编号：0404440参考文献：加州大学圣巴巴拉分校研究人员：Bouwmeester，DirkTITLE：NER：微管中的能量传输摘要微管是支持细胞结构和功能的重要生物聚合物。它们的直径约为25纳米，通常长到许多微米长。然而，微管的长度很少是恒定的。在生长过程中会发生化学反应，释放能量。这种能量储存在微管内，有助于突然转变为解体状态。人们对微管的能量储存和可能的能量传输知之甚少。微管非常规则的结构以及微管的小段具有电偶极矩这一事实表明，通过偶极-偶极相互作用进行能量转移是可能的。我们的目标是研究通过化学方法将人造原子(胶体量子点)附着到微管束上进行能量转移的可能性。利用光，可以在人造原子内部诱导偶极，从而提供一种启动和读出能量传输的方法。这种类型的能量传输的证据可能会对理解细胞动力学产生重大影响。

PROPOSAL NO: 0404440INSTITUTION: U of Cal Santa BarbaraPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Bouwmeester , DirkTITLE: NER: Energy Transport in MicrotubulesAbstractMicrotubules are very important biological polymers that support the structure and function of cells. They are about 25 nm in diameter and often grow to many microns in length. However, microtubule length is rarely constant. During growth a chemical reaction takes place that releases energy. This energy is stored within the microtubule and contributes to the sudden change to a disassembling state. Little is known about the energy storage and possible energy transport along microtubules. The very regular structure of the microtubule together with the fact that the small segments of microtubules have an electric dipole moment suggest that energy transport through dipole-dipole interactions is possible.We aim to investigate the possibility of energy transfer by chemically attaching artificial atoms (colloidal quantum dots) to bundles of microtubules. Using light, dipoles can be induced inside the artificial atoms, thus providing a way to initiate and read-out energy transport. Evidence of this type of energy transport could have a major impact on the understanding of cell dynamics.