Ricky Soong

Biomolecular motors such as F 1 –adenosine triphosphate synthase (F 1 -ATPase) and myosin are similar in size, and they generate forces compatible with currently producible nanoengineered structures. We have engineered individual biomolecular motors and nanoscale inorganic systems, and we describe their integration in a hybrid nanomechanical device powered by a biomolecular motor. The device consisted of three components: an engineered substrate, an F 1 -ATPase biomolecular motor, and fabricated nanopropellers. Rotation of the nanopropeller was initiated with 2 mM adenosine triphosphate and inhibited by sodium azide.

The ability to precisely position and orient biological molecules on engineered substrates is an enabling technology critical to the long-term goal of integrating biomolecular motors with nano-electro-mechanical systems. Electron beam lithography and nanoimprinting techniques were used to produce arrays of nickel dots (50−200 nm diameter). Analysis using fluorescence (of microspheres attached to the γ subunit) and atomic force microscopy of these arrays demonstrated precise positioning, spacing, and orientation of individual F1-ATPase molecules.