Motor Proteins and Molecular Motors

A Unified Microscopic Approach to Analyzing Complex Processes in Molecular Motors

Motor Proteins and Molecular Motors explores the mechanisms of cellular functioning associated with several specific enzymatic molecules called motor proteins. Motor proteins, also known as molecular motors, play important roles in living systems by supporting cellular transport and force generation via the transformation of chemical energy into mechanical work.

The book presents established results, theoretical methods, and experimental observations related to biological molecular motors. It uses fundamental physical-chemical concepts and methods to develop a systematic theoretical framework for understanding motor protein dynamics. The author introduces the main ideas using simple arguments that avoid heavy mathematical derivations in favor of more intuitive physical understanding. Although the book assumes some rudimentary knowledge of cell biology, calculus, and basic ideas from chemistry and physics, it gives explanations and derivations for most results.

Accessible to students and researchers in a wide range of scientific fields, this book provides a unified molecular picture for analyzing motor proteins. It connects major experimental facts on molecular motors to principal theoretical concepts consistent with the fundamental laws of chemistry and physics.

Introduction. Basic Properties of Motor Proteins. Experimental Studies of Motor Proteins. Fundamental Physical Concepts: Equilibrium Approaches. Fundamental Physical Concepts: Non-Equilibrium Approaches. Motor Proteins as Enzymes. Theory for Motor Proteins: Continuum Ratchets. Theory for Motor Proteins: Discrete-State Stochastic Models. Collective Properties of Motor Proteins. Artificial Molecular Motors and Rotors. Future Directions in Studies of Motor Proteins and Molecular Motors. Index.