Sliding Motion of Magnetizable Beads Coated with Chara Motor Protein in a Magnetic Field

Abstract

We have investigated the sliding movement of magnetizable beads coated with Chara motor protein in a magnetic field using a Characean motility assay system. In the present study only the motion of the beads moving in the opposite direction to the magnetic force exerted on them has been observed. This investigation has revealed that Hill's type equation describes relation between average sliding velocity of the beads and the magnetic force. We have also obtained traces of the single beads at every 1/30 s in order to investigate the sliding motion of the beads from a stochastic viewpoint. Application of our stochastic model for the sliding movement to analysis of the traces has made it clear that while the stroke frequency remains constant with increase of the magnetic force, the distance of the beads moved by a single impulse due to the interaction between the motor protein and actin decreases.