Abstract
This study introduces a modeling method for a supermolecular structure of microtubules for the development of a force generation material using motor proteins. 3D imaging by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to obtain 3D volume density data. The density data were then interpreted by a set of cylinders with the general-purpose 3D modeling software Blender, and a 3D network structure of microtubules was constructed. Although motor proteins were not visualized experimentally, they were introduced into the model to simulate pulling of the microtubules toward each other to yield shrinking of the network, resulting in contraction of the artificial muscle. From the successful force generation simulation of the obtained model structure of artificial muscle, the modeling method introduced here could be useful in various studies for potential improvements of this contractile molecular system.
Highlights
In nanotechnology, the mobile micromachine is gaining attention for potential application to the development of artificial muscle [1,2,3]
An atomic model of the structure of kinesin, a motor protein that moves along microtubule filaments, was available at the Protein Data Bank, and is represented in volume shape data as a polygon mesh
Having a structural model of the microtubule network used in artificial muscle enables understanding of how the motor proteins pull the microtubule filaments, and allows demonstration of the movement using the rigid body physics simulation function in Blender
Summary
The mobile micromachine is gaining attention for potential application to the development of artificial muscle [1,2,3]. The molecules for the artificial muscle were designed to organize contractile systems as an intrinsic characteristic, so that a muscular structure is built by self-organization This material was made possible by using DNA origami technology [5,6] to bind microtubule filaments to form the aster structure. An atomic model of the structure of kinesin, a motor protein that moves along microtubule filaments, was available at the Protein Data Bank, and is represented in volume shape data as a polygon mesh For modeling tasks such as layout and molecule orientation, we introduced Blender [8], a general-purpose 3D graphics modeling software. Having a structural model of the microtubule network used in artificial muscle enables understanding of how the motor proteins pull the microtubule filaments, and allows demonstration of the movement using the rigid body physics simulation function in Blender. We will discuss a potential strategy to accomplish multiple time contractions by a quick recovery method based on the obtained dynamic property of this contractile material
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