Synthetic kinesin analogues: A transition metal complex that can walk

Objective

The goal of the research project proposed is to design, synthesise, operate and fully characterize a wholly synthetic molecular machine mimicking the mechanical action of the kinesin motor protein, namely unidirectional, hand-over-hand (also known as “passing leg”), mechanically processive motion to propel a molecule along a pre-defined molecular “track”. To accomplish this purpose, two sets of kinetically stable binding units must be present on the walker unit. These two units must have orthogonal binding requirements and the relative binding affinities of one of the units within the binding points along the track must be switchable by a stimulus that does not affect the other binding unit.
To mimic the kinesin action in a synthetic molecular system, metal-binding events of the motor molecule along the functionalized track are exploited to control the thermodynamics and kinetics of biased Brownian motion in a functional molecular system. In concrete, the binding units of the walker contain two metallic centres, a palladium(II) complex and a platinum(II) complex, which can undergo a proton-mediated ligand exchange based on two orthogonal mechanisms, because while the exchange of the palladium(II) complexes is achieved thermally, the one of the platinum(II) centres is photochemical.
This system can be considered a part of the state-of-the-art interest to develop wholly artificial chemical systems which display the propety of sequential processivity. The novelty is that the proposed system is based on a pH-dependant ligand exchange on Pd(II) and Pt(II) complexes, which is expected to result in a highly directional movement under termodynamic control.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

• natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry transition metals
• natural sciences physical sciences thermodynamics
• natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules proteins

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

• FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF - Marie-Curie Action: "Intra-European fellowships for career development"

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IEF
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MC-IEF - Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)

Coordinator