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James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 11d

Thanks for the kind words Dean, and for your input in review

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Reposted by James Gallagher

Chem by Cell Press @cp-chem.bsky.social · 13d

Online now: Structure-performance relationships for catalysis-driven molecular machinery

Structure-performance relationships for catalysis-driven molecular machinery

Molecular machine properties such as speed, efficiency, power, and torque depend upon particular features of structure, mechanism, and chemistry. The graphical abstract shows a Top Trumps-style representation of key performance indicators, illustrating how the first generation of synthetic catalysis-driven small-molecule machines compare with their biomolecular analogs. The understanding of how molecular machine design affects properties should aid technological advancements and a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles that link physics, chemistry, and biology.

dlvr.it

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James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

Much of the maths is based off work by @deanast.bsky.social. We hope that the plug-and-play nature of the interactive plot lowers the barrier to entry for those (like myself) who are more synthetically inclined.

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James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

Motor makers can input the values from their own designs to generate performance outcomes, or experiment with which changes will produce the best outcomes.

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James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

The physics of molecular machinery can be confusing. We developed a plug-and-play interactive tool based on trajectory thermodynamics. The user can now visualise how/why motors move directionally or respond to a force (see video), without knowledge of the physics or maths.
github.com/JoaquinBaixe...

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James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

Finally, we highlight areas in which artifical machines lag behind their biological counterparts. In doing so, we propose avenues that might be fruitful for future research.

James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

We contextualise the physical background with real examples - biological and artificial - so that it is now possible to compare and contrast a machine's performance. We end the paper with a Top Trumps of biological and artificial motors, comparing directionality, speed, stall force, efficiency, etc.

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James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

We often discuss how future artificial nanomachines might be useful. Excitingly, the tools now exist for us to live up to our words. We hope that papers like ours will act as guides to the important mechanistic, physical, and structural considerations underlying task performance.

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James Gallagher @jamesgallagher.bsky.social · 13d

In biology, molecular machines exist to perform useful functions. Artificial molecular machines now move in the same way as those in biology, but they do not yet perform tasks. Out now in Chem, a guide to task performance in molecular machinery. www.cell.com/chem/fulltex...
@cp-chem.bsky.social

Structure-performance relationships for catalysis-driven molecular machinery

Molecular machine properties such as speed, efficiency, power, and torque depend upon particular features of structure, mechanism, and chemistry. The graphical abstract shows a Top Trumps-style repres...

www.cell.com

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Reposted by James Gallagher

Ben Roberts @benjaminoacid.bsky.social · Aug 1

Information ratchets drive many molecular motors, but we can also use them for other nonequilibrium processes like performing error correction in a molecular recognition process to increase selectivity. Published today in @natnano.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

An information ratchet improves selectivity in molecular recognition under non-equilibrium conditions - Nature Nanotechnology

An abiotic information ratchet mechanism increases selectivity for the correct DNA duplex from 2:1 at equilibrium to 6:1 under energy-dissipating conditions.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by James Gallagher

Ben Roberts @benjaminoacid.bsky.social · Feb 24

I’m excited to share that I will be moving to the University of Ulm as a junior group leader and I have a fully-funded open PhD position co-supervised by me and Max von Delius @mvdelius.bsky.social . Apply at [email protected], any shares would be appreciated!

www.bmwrlab.com/work-with-us

Work with us | The Roberts Lab

www.bmwrlab.com

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Reposted by James Gallagher

Dave Leigh @profdaveleigh.bsky.social · Jan 15

Peng-Lai, @stefanborsley.bsky.social, Martin & our collaborators Alessandro and @giusepponelab.bsky.social demonstrate how a catalyst transduces chemical energy to perform mechanical work in www.nature.com/articles/s41... in @nature.com. tinyurl.com/jny7nen5. Animation @scicommstudios.bsky.social😀

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