Abstract
Abstract Biological functions are maintained by various types of molecular motors driven at several pico-newtons, where the driving force is obtained from a chemical potential difference within the microscale. Here, we show in detail artificial vesicles that generate mechanical work from a local pH gradient. This study demonstrates that they can be regarded as a molecular assembly machine. We have previously reported that the vesicles are composed of oleate and oleic acid and exhibit rhythmic shape changes. This cyclic motion involves both rotation of the entire vesicle and its inside-out inversion, which constitute relaxation and excitation processes, respectively, that sustain the cycle. These motions were observed under a quasi-steady state pH gradient, and the driving force of rotation was determined to be of the order of 10−2–10−1 pN, which is consistent with the membrane elasticity driving the deformation (vesicle inversion).
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