Fabrication of artificial muscles from biomolecular motors and DNA origami nanostructures

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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.