The National Centre for Biological Sciences has found a new type of molecular motor that may have uses in biology and medicine.
What exactly is a molecular motor?
- Molecular motors are used by cells to move organelles and molecules, and disruption of these processes can result in disease.
- Biochemical energy is used by molecular motors to do mechanical work.
What did the new study discover?
- The researchers discovered that EEA1, a lengthy protein, can restore its rigid shape to form a new type of two-part molecular motor.
- EEA1 regains its rigid structure via a mechanism known as GTP hydrolysis, which is mediated by enzymes known as GTPases.
- The researchers believe this could herald the emergence of a new class of molecular machines that function as motors in unexpected ways with novel collective effects.
Why is the discovery significant?
- The motor differs from typical motors in that it does not create a lever-like back-and-forth action and instead uses GTP for energy rather than ATP (Adenosine Tri Phosphate).
- EEA1 has a unique property in that it exerts an entropic force on the membranes it pulls.
- The discovery could have implications for understanding membrane fusion as well as many other mechanochemical proteins or assemblies.
What are some of the possible applications?
- The discovery of the molecular motor could have biological and medical applications.
- The research establishes a general method that can be used to many mechanochemical proteins or assemblies that use chemical energy to do mechanical work in cells.
Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/ncbs-scientists-new-molecular-motor-gtp-hydrolysis/article66807597.ece