The research project is directed toward the construction of a synthetic bio-inorganic machine that consists in a single actin filament that interacts with a linear array of myosin II motors regularly disposed on a nano-structured device. The motor array is intended to simulate the unique properties of the ensemble of motor proteins in the half-sarcomere of the muscle by providing the condition for developing steady force and shortening by cyclic interactions with the actin filament. The mechanical outputs in the range 0.5-200 pN force and 1–10,000 nm shortening will be measured and controlled with millisecond time resolution by means of a double laser optical tweezers apparatus (Bianco et al., Biophys J. 101(3), August 2011). The objectives pursued by the project are: a. Production of native and artificial myosins; b. Interfacing motor proteins and inorganic devices; c. Preparation of bead tailed actin with correct polarity; d. Design and fabrication of nanostructures to control the geometry of the motor protein array by nano-patterning of the silica/quartz support; e. Synthetic machine imaging by optical and electron microscopies. The advancement of the research in each of these objectives is reported.

Supported by IIT-SEED MYOMAC (Italy).