Researchers at New York University and Harvard University have created an autonomous, bipedal DNA “walker” that can mimic a cell’s transportation system and which marks a step toward creating more complex synthetic molecular motors.

Previous versions of walkers, which are able to move along a track of DNA, were unable to function autonomously and were liable to become uncoordinated and fall off the DNA “track”.

The New York and Harvard team overcame this problem by employing two DNA “fuel strands” which worked with the walker as a catalytic unit pushing the walker along the DNA tracks. More base pairs are formed at every step and this creates the energy necessary for movement. The fuel strands bind to the track and also release the walker’s legs allowing it to take a “step”.

The researchers hope that the research may mark a step toward creating more complex synthetic molecular motors capable of carrying a cargo from one part of a cell to another.

Video animation of walker

Science paper

Source: Nanowerk