Molecular Motors on the Run 15
Roland Piquepaille writes "In the nanotech world, molecular 'motors' have been heavily investigated during the last decade. And you probably read that these nano-carriers will one day be able to move a useful drug right where it's needed inside your body. But think for a minute to the size gap between yourself and a molecule. It's pretty impressive! Now, according to this news release, researchers from the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany have developed a theory stating that only a few motor molecules should be enough for directed transport over centimeters or even meters. It's probably a meaningless comparison, but it's like if you were able to walk to the moon and come back."
Interesting (Score:1, Funny)
-1, Roland Piquepaille (Score:2)
Now for something completely different... (Score:3, Funny)
Exact drug targetting for a fraction of the price (Score:2)
Synthetic analogue (Score:5, Informative)
The enzyme itself is elegant [yu.edu], consisting of a rotating and a stationary segment, and has been the subject of much research by scientists eager to replicate its 'mechanics' into a synthetic cargo-carrying molecular machine, similar to those discussed in the article. Unfortunately, the last I heard imitating nature was proving a lot more difficult than expected.
Re:Synthetic analogue (Score:1)
Basically, if this takes off, we'll all hear about it in the Cancer world. The problem with cancer drugs is that they kill just about every type of cell, not just damaged ones. So trying to get them to just target those damaged, cancerous cells is more than just a little challenge.
Another way of looking at it is that every drug has side effects, and they usually result from the drug acting in places where we did not intend. Imagine cutting out most of these side effects. The state of medicine today wi
Re:Synthetic analogue (Score:1)
Actually, ATP-synthase is found in every living thing (AFAIK). It's what allows the mitochondria found in the cells of all animals, plants, fungi and protists to make ATP. Bacteria (as you mention) also have it. Non-photosynthetic organisms use the energy provided by breaking down more complex molecules (e.g. sugar) instead of the sun to create the pH gradient that drives the ATP-synthase.
I don't know that I'd classify ATP-synthase as a molecular motor. It has moving parts, to be sure, but it doesn't
Re:Get off slashdot (Score:4, Funny)
You include this statement (without the slightest sign of intentional irony) in your own judgemental comment on someone else's judgemental comment. Ironically, I feel that I must comment judgementally on this.
This is why I have lunches with Andrea Dworkin and not a bunch of catty women whose sense of humor is so constrained by the mores of society that they don't even laugh at stories of Penis Puppetry.
When you last ate with Andrea, did she happen to mention that she had died in April [washingtonpost.com]? I'd have thought that your lunch dates would have been somewhat constrained by that event.
Golly! (Score:2)
I think that would really read better as "It's pretty impressive, gosh darn it!"
Theory only (Score:2)
Jesus (Score:1)