Molecular machine

Molecular machines, or nanomachines, are molecules with moving parts. In biology, these machines may be proteins or groups of proteins that carry out biological functions. In nanotechnology, a molecular machine might be a mechanical device that performs a specific task when energy is added.

Biology

In biology, a molecular machine, or nanomachine, is a group of molecular components that produce physical movements (output) in response to specific stimuli (input). The term is often used to describe large multi-protein complexes that bind to each other and other molecules to achieve particular functions.

Examples

• Ribosomes are a type of molecular machine. They are complex molecular mechanisms that are mainly responsible for the synthesis of proteins in the living organism.
• ATP synthase, a rotary mechanical motor, is found in the mitochondria of most eukaryotic cells.
• DNA polymerase and RNA polymerase are also molecular machines.

Nanotechnology

In nanotechnology, a molecular machine, or nanomachine, is any discrete number of molecular components that produce quasi-mechanical movements (output) in response to specific stimuli (input). The expression is often more generally used for molecules that simply mimic machines, but are not necessarily connected to any macroscopic machine-like movements.

See also

• Molecular motor
• Nanomotor
• Molecular propeller
• Molecular switch
• Synthetic molecular motors

External links

• Molecular Machines Research Group

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