Fabrication of artificial muscles from biomolecular motors and DNA origami nanostructures

该项目旨在通过生物分子马达（微管、驱动蛋白）和 DNA 折纸纳米结构的融合来制造人造肌肉。人造肌肉的构建包括两个阶段：全局微管网络的动态收缩和收缩网络的随后松弛。通过使用微管、六螺旋束DNA折纸纳米结构和四聚体驱动蛋白连接体，成功实现了整体微管网络的动态收缩。此外，通过将与微管相互作用的驱动蛋白马达的数量从四个减少到三个，我们还能够显着减缓整体微管网络的收缩动力学。然而，收缩微管网络的松弛仍然是一个挑战。使用可光裂解的接头 DNA 在一定程度上促进了收缩的微管网络的松弛。未来，需要进一步尝试加速这种放松过程，使其具有类似于生物体肌肉的反复收缩和放松的能力。

This project was aimed at fabricating artificial muscles through fusion of biomolecular motors (microtubules, kinesin) and DNA origami nanostructures. The construction of artificial muscles consists of two phases: dynamic contraction of a global microtubule network and subsequent relaxation of the contracted network. The dynamic contraction of a global microtubule network has been achieved successfully by using microtubules, six helix bundle DNA origami nanostructures, and tetrameric kinesin linkers. Moreover, by reducing the number of kinesin motors interacting with microtubules from four to three, we are also able to slow down the kinetics of contraction of the global microtubule network significantly. However, relaxation of the contracted microtubule network has still remained a challenge. Use of a photocleavable linker DNA has facilitated relaxation of the contracted microtubule network to some extent. In future, further attempts are required to accelerate this relaxation process with an ability to repeatedly contract and relax similar to that of muscles in living organisms.