Force generation by a propagating wave of supramolecular nanofibers

Ryou Kubota,Masahiro Makuta,Masatoshi Ichikawa,Itaru Hamachi,Motomu Tanaka,Ryo Suzuki

doi:10.1038/s41467-020-17394-z

Ryou Kubota, Masahiro Makuta + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-17394-z

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Abstract

Dynamic spatiotemporal patterns that arise from out-of-equilibrium biochemical reactions generate forces in living cells. Despite considerable recent efforts, rational design of spatiotemporal patterns in artificial molecular systems remains at an early stage of development. Here, we describe force generation by a propagating wave of supramolecular nanofibers. Inspired by actin dynamics, a reaction network is designed to control the formation and degradation of nanofibers by two chemically orthogonal stimuli. Real-time fluorescent imaging successfully visualizes the propagating wave based on spatiotemporally coupled generation and collapse of nanofibers. Numerical simulation indicates that the concentration gradient of degradation stimulus and the smaller diffusion coefficient of the nanofiber are critical for wave emergence. Moreover, the force (0.005 pN) generated by chemophoresis and/or depletion force of this propagating wave can move nanobeads along the wave direction.

Highlights

Dynamic spatiotemporal patterns that arise from out-of-equilibrium biochemical reactions generate forces in living cells
There have been many examples of force generation by out-of-equilibrium systems in biology; it is reasonable to expect that artificial spatiotemporal patterns of supramolecular nanofibers can generate forces
Real-time confocal laser scanning microscopic (CLSM) imaging visualizes that the propagating wave based on spatiotemporally coupled generation and collapse of nanofibers proceeds in the mm scale

Summary

Introduction

Dynamic spatiotemporal patterns that arise from out-of-equilibrium biochemical reactions generate forces in living cells. We performed real-time CLSM imaging of the formation and degradation of Zn2+-induced BPmoc-F3 nanofibers stained with BP-TMR, a fluorescent probe (Supplementary Fig. 4). The fluorescence intensity profile of the CLSM images revealed that the nanofiber formation continued for over 60 min (Supplementary Fig. 5c).

Results

Conclusion