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2005 Nuggets

Biomolecular Motor Transport
(Hancock, Jackson, Horn, Catchmark and Williams, IRG 2)

To harness the microscale transport and force generating capabilities of biological molecular motors, we are incorporating kinesin motor proteins and microtubules (25 nm protein polymer tracks) into microfabricated structures and devising novel approaches for labeling and cargo attachment. We have created microscale channels in SU-8 photoresist, immobilized kinesin motors in these channels, and transported microtubules along these defined tracks. We were the first group to adapt this photoresist for work with biomolecular motors, and this work sets out a fabrication strategy for creating three dimensional structures to guide motor-driven microtubule transport. The eventual goal of this work is to isolate DNA fragments or cells and transport them to defined destinations on a microfluidic chip. We have successfully bound both DNA target molecules and white blood cells to the microtubules using the biotin-streptavidin system.