LOOSE MECHANOCHEMICAL COUPLING OF MOLECULAR MOTORS

Abstract

In living cells, molecular motors convert chemical energy into mechanical work. Its thermodynamic energy efficiency, i.e. the ratio of output mechanical work to input chemical energy, is usually high. However, using two-state models, we found the motion of molecular motors is loosely coupled to the chemical cycle. Only part of the input energy can be converted into mechanical work. Others are dissipated into environment during substeps without contributions to the unidirectional movement.