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Single-Molecule Clocks Controlled by Serial Chemical Reactions
- Source :
- Nano Letters. 17:7940-7944
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- American Chemical Society (ACS), 2017.
-
Abstract
- Chemical clocks usually achieve well-defined temporal delays through concentration thresholding coupled to the production, degradation, activation, or inhibition of downstream effectors. In this way, the stochastic dynamics of many individual molecules yield essentially deterministic bulk behavior through ensemble averaging. As a result, their temporal evolution is governed by ensemble dynamics rather than by the behavior of an individual molecule or complex. Here, we present a general approach for the design of single-molecule clocks that permits quasi-deterministic control over the lifetime of single molecular interactions without any external synchronization. By coupling the dissociation of a bimolecular complex to a series of irreversible chemical steps, we interpose a well-defined time delay between binding and dissociation. The number and speed of irreversible steps can be varied to systematically tune both the lifetimes of complexes and the precision of the time delay, raising the prospect of localized timekeeping in nanoscale systems and devices.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
Chemistry
Mechanical Engineering
Ensemble averaging
Analytical chemistry
Bioengineering
02 engineering and technology
General Chemistry
021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology
Condensed Matter Physics
Chemical reaction
Thresholding
Article
Dissociation (chemistry)
03 medical and health sciences
Chemical clock
030104 developmental biology
DNA nanotechnology
Molecule
General Materials Science
0210 nano-technology
Iodine clock reaction
Biological system
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15306992 and 15306984
- Volume :
- 17
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Nano Letters
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....073126487b6b49240a572375ad18bc96