Hiratsuka Group

Associate Professor Yuichi Hiratsuka

E-mail: yhira@jaist.ac.jp

Photo:Hiratsuka Group

Micro-Mechanical Devices Powered by Motor Proteins

Outline

Living organisms have developed diverse functions through evolution over a long period of time. Some functions are related to mobility, including muscle contraction, bacteria' s swimming and cell division. Nanometer proteins called motor proteins are integrated into motion assemblies with dimensions ranging from the micrometer-scale (bacteria) to the meter-scale (muscle). A motor protein is a molecular machine that converts chemical energy into dynamic force with great efficiency. This is an excellent property that conventional artificial motors do not have. In our laboratory, we are developing biohybrid micromachines using organic motors and micro-fabrication technology.

artificial muscle

Recent selected publications

  1. "A printable active network actuator built from an engineered biomolecular motor"
    Takahiro Nitta, Yingzhe Wang, Zhao Du, Keisuke Morishima & Yuichi Hiratsuka
    Nature Materials DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-021-00969-6 (2021)
  2. "Micrometer-sized molecular robot changes its shape in response to signal molecules"
    Yusuke Sato, Yuichi Hiratsuka, Ibuki Kawamata, Satoshi Murata and Shin-ichiro M. Nomura
    Science Robotics vol. 2, Issue 4, eaal3735 (2017)
  3. "Self-organized optical device driven by motor proteins"
    Susumu Aoyama, Masahiko Shimoike, and Yuichi Hiratsuka
    Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. vol. 110 no. 41, 16408-16413 (2013)
  4. "Micro-rotary motor powered by bacteria"
    Yuichi Hiratsuaka, Makoto Miyata, Tetsuya Tada and Taro. Q. P. Uyeda
    Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. 103 13618 (2006)

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