Utilization of Myosin and Actin Bundles for the Transport of Molecular Cargo

The utilization of motor proteins for the movement and assembly of synthetic components is currently a goal of nanoengineering research. Application of the myosin actin motor system for nanotechnological uses has been hampered due to the low flexural rigidity of individual F‐actin filaments. Here it is demonstrated how actin bundling can be used to affect the translational behavior of myosin‐propelled filaments, transport molecules across a motor‐patterned surface, and that the movement of bundled actin can be regulated photonically. These data suggest that actin bundling may significantly improve the applicability of the myosin motor for future nanotechnological applications. The utility of actin bundles for nanotransport applications is examined. Actin bundling affects the translational behavior of the actin filaments and may be useful for the transport of molecular cargo (streptavidin‐functionalized beads) while the myosin motor may be regulated photonically. These data suggest that actin bundling may significantly improve the applicability of the myosin motor for future nanotechnological applications.