SEMINAR 2025

Abstract

Biological molecular machines are nano-sized chemical engines. Therefore, it would be natural to ask how efficient they are and what mechanisms drive that efficiency. We are challenging these fundamental questions experimentally, focusing on the biological rotary motor F1. Using single-molecule experiments, we evaluate the energetics of this motor and have found that F1 operates with remarkable efficiency, even far from equilibrium. Interestingly, F1 appears to leverage a mechanism akin to Maxwell’s demon to enhance its efficiency. We show how information flows through the motor. In living cells, the F1 motor is forcibly rotated by another motor, Fo, to synthesize ATP molecules. While the exact mechanism by which Fo exerts torque on F1 remains unknown, we can experimentally investigate the most efficient way to externally rotate F1. If time allows, I will present our recent findings on efficient external control of F1 rotation.