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Title: Time-Dependent Measure of a Nano-Scale Force-Pulse Driven by the Axonemal Dynein Motors in Individual Live Sperm Cells

Abstract

Nano-scale mechanical forces generated by motor proteins are crucial to normal cellular and organismal functioning. The ability to measure and exploit such forces would be important to developing motile biomimetic nanodevices powered by biological motors for Nanomedicine. Axonemal dynein motors positioned inside the sperm flagellum drive microtubule sliding giving rise to rhythmic beating of the flagellum. This force-generating action makes it possible for the sperm cell to move through viscous media. Here we report new nano-scale information on how the propulsive force is generated by the sperm flagellum and how this force varies over time. Single cell recordings reveal discrete {approx}50 ms pulses oscillating with amplitude 9.8 {+-} 2.6 nN independent of pulse frequency (3.5-19.5 Hz). The average work carried out by each cell is 4.6 x 10{sup -16} J per pulse, equivalent to the hydrolysis of {approx}5,500 ATP molecules. The mechanochemical coupling at each active dynein head is {approx}2.2 pN/ATP, and {approx}3.9 pN per dynein arm, in agreement with previously published values obtained using different methods.

Authors:
; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
986075
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-412589
TRN: US201017%%134
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Nanomedicine, vol. 6, no. 4, August 1, 2010, pp. 510
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 6; Journal Issue: 4
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; AMPLITUDES; HYDROLYSIS; MICROTUBULES; MOTORS; PROTEINS; SPERMATOZOA

Citation Formats

Allen, M J, Rudd, R E, McElfresh, M W, and Balhorn, R. Time-Dependent Measure of a Nano-Scale Force-Pulse Driven by the Axonemal Dynein Motors in Individual Live Sperm Cells. United States: N. p., 2009. Web.
Allen, M J, Rudd, R E, McElfresh, M W, & Balhorn, R. Time-Dependent Measure of a Nano-Scale Force-Pulse Driven by the Axonemal Dynein Motors in Individual Live Sperm Cells. United States.
Allen, M J, Rudd, R E, McElfresh, M W, and Balhorn, R. 2009. "Time-Dependent Measure of a Nano-Scale Force-Pulse Driven by the Axonemal Dynein Motors in Individual Live Sperm Cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/986075.
@article{osti_986075,
title = {Time-Dependent Measure of a Nano-Scale Force-Pulse Driven by the Axonemal Dynein Motors in Individual Live Sperm Cells},
author = {Allen, M J and Rudd, R E and McElfresh, M W and Balhorn, R},
abstractNote = {Nano-scale mechanical forces generated by motor proteins are crucial to normal cellular and organismal functioning. The ability to measure and exploit such forces would be important to developing motile biomimetic nanodevices powered by biological motors for Nanomedicine. Axonemal dynein motors positioned inside the sperm flagellum drive microtubule sliding giving rise to rhythmic beating of the flagellum. This force-generating action makes it possible for the sperm cell to move through viscous media. Here we report new nano-scale information on how the propulsive force is generated by the sperm flagellum and how this force varies over time. Single cell recordings reveal discrete {approx}50 ms pulses oscillating with amplitude 9.8 {+-} 2.6 nN independent of pulse frequency (3.5-19.5 Hz). The average work carried out by each cell is 4.6 x 10{sup -16} J per pulse, equivalent to the hydrolysis of {approx}5,500 ATP molecules. The mechanochemical coupling at each active dynein head is {approx}2.2 pN/ATP, and {approx}3.9 pN per dynein arm, in agreement with previously published values obtained using different methods.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/986075}, journal = {Nanomedicine, vol. 6, no. 4, August 1, 2010, pp. 510},
number = 4,
volume = 6,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2009},
month = {Thu Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2009}
}