Motor Proteins and Molecular Motors

A Unified Microscopic Approach to Analyzing Complex Processes in Molecular Motors Motor Proteins and Molecular Motors explores the mechanisms of cellular functioning associated with several specific enzymatic molecules called motor proteins. Motor proteins, also known as molecular motors, play important roles in living systems by supporting cellular transport and force generation via the transformation of chemical energy into mechanical work. The book presents established results, theoretical methods, and experimental observations related to biological molecular motors. It uses fundamental physical-chemical concepts and methods to develop a systematic theoretical framework for understanding motor protein dynamics. The author introduces the main ideas using simple arguments that avoid heavy mathematical derivations in favor of more intuitive physical understanding. Although the book assumes some rudimentary knowledge of cell biology, calculus, and basic ideas from chemistry and physics, it gives explanations and derivations for most results. Accessible to students and researchers in a wide range of scientific fields, this book provides a unified molecular picture for analyzing motor proteins. It connects major experimental facts on molecular motors to principal theoretical concepts consistent with the fundamental laws of chemistry and physics.

Introduction MOTOR PROTEINS IN BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS SINGLE-MOLECULE EXPERIMENTS DISCUSSION OF THEORETICAL MODELS FOR MOLECULAR MOTORS MOTOR PROTEINS AS NANOSCALE MACHINES OUTLOOK Basic Properties of Motor Proteins HISTORY OF MOTOR PROTEINS CLASSIFICATION OF BIOLOGICAL MOLECULAR MOTORS STRUCTURES OF MOTOR PROTEINS BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF MOLECULAR MOTORSSUMMARY Experimental Studies of Motor Proteins INTRODUCTION BULK CHEMICAL-KINETIC MEASUREMENTS STRUCTURAL STUDIES SINGLE-MOLECULE FORCE SPECTROSCOPY FLUORESCENT LABELING AND SUPER-RESOLUTION TECHNIQUES MAJOR EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONS SUMMARY Fundamental Physical Concepts: Equilibrium Approaches INTRODUCTION BASIC EQUILIBRIUM THERMODYNAMICS BASIC STATISTICAL MECHANICS APPLICATION FOR MOTOR PROTEINS SUMMARY Fundamental Physical Concepts: Non-Equilibrium Approaches INTRODUCTION MACROSCOPIC CHEMICAL KINETICS RANDOM WALKS FIRST-PASSAGE PROCESSES SUMMARY MATHEMATICAL APPENDIX Motor Proteins as EnzymesINTRODUCTION CATALYSIS ENZYMATIC PROCESSESSUMMARY MATHEMATICAL APPENDIX Theory for Motor Proteins: Continuum Ratchets INTRODUCTIONCONTINUUM RATCHET POTENTIALS CRITICAL ANALYSIS SUMMARY Theory for Motor Proteins: Discrete-State Stochastic Models INTRODUCTION DISCRETE-STATE STOCHASTIC APPROACH CRITICAL ANALYSIS SUMMARY MATHEMATICAL APPENDIX Collective Properties of Motor Proteins COOPERATIVITY AND INTERACTIONS IN MOTOR PROTEINS DYNAMICS EXPERIMENTAL OBSERVATIONSTHEORETICAL IDEAS SUMMARY Artificial Molecular Motors and Rotors INTRODUCTION BIOLOGICAL ARTIFICIAL MOLECULAR MOTORSNON-BIOLOGICAL ARTIFICIAL MOLECULAR MOTORSARTIFICIAL MOLECULAR ROTORS SUMMARY Future Directions in Studies of Motor Proteins and Molecular Motors WHAT WE UNDERSTAND NOW ABOUT MOTOR PROTEINS AND MOLECULAR MOTORS OPEN QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE Index

Anatoly B. Kolomeisky