Publications that resulted from research performed in ArtMotor
Clocked stepping of an artificial protein walker along a DNA track
The ArtMotor team has demonstrated the movement of the Tumbleweed motor protein along a DNA track.
Tumbleweed, the first externally controlled artificial protein motor, using a modular design that combines well-characterized proteins into a functional molecular machine. Tumbleweed walks in 16 nm steps along a designed DNA track in response to programmed chemical signals, with both the timing and direction of movement precisely controlled. This work establishes a versatile platform for engineering protein-based nanomachines and studying the fundamental principles of molecular motion.
Nilsson, P., Robertson, N.O., Gustafsson, N. et al. Nat. Nanotechnol .(2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-026-02211-3
A Nature News & Views article highlights Tumbleweed as an important step toward building custom-designed protein motors. The work demonstrates how modular protein engineering can create programmable molecular machines inspired by nature.
Iino, R. Stepping ahead toward custom-designed autonomous motor proteins. Nat. Nanotechnol.(2026).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-026-02210-4
The lawnmower, a protein based molecular motor that moves along a microfabricated track
The team of authors demonstrated the world’s first artificial motor that uses proteins to create movement: a microsphere that moved forward autonomously thanks to a layer of proteins, specifically enzymes. Since the enzymes cut another layer of “grass molecules” on a glass surface like a lawnmower, the microsphere moved forward. The necessary energy was released as the enzymes cut the “grass”.
This engine uses biological proteins found in nature and numerous proteins need to interact.
Motility of an autonomous protein-based artificial motor that operates via a burnt-bridge principle. Korosec, C.S., Unksov, I.N., Surendiran, P. et al. Nat Commun 15, 1511 (2024).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45570-y
Publications that provide important background for ArtMotor
Pathway towards artificial protein motors
From general principles for macromolecular motors, the researchers derived a pathway to generating synthetic motor proteins. Using a modular assembly approach, the first objective is the construction of a clocked walker. The clocked walker (or tumbleweed) is a motor type that is driven by external forces in the aqueous solution. The second objective is the construction of an autonomous walker which is driven by enzymatic reactions.
Synthetic biology approaches to dissecting linear motor protein function: towards the design and synthesis of artificial autonomous protein walkers. Linke, H., Höcker, B., Furuta, K. et al. Biophys Rev 12, 1041–1054 (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-020-00717-1
