Parts exchange: Why molecular machines are like used cars
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Author(s)
Department/unit(s)
Publication details
| Journal | Biologist |
|---|---|
| Date | Published - 1 Feb 2008 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Volume | 55 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Pages (from-to) | 33-39 |
| Original language | English |
Abstract
Proteins, so small that one billion would fit on a full stop, carry out most of the vital activities in living cells; they drive chemical reactions, transport cargoes, communicate with the outside world and even segregate chromosomes. A novel approach now allows us to monitor single proteins in complicated molecular machines, and it seems that biological components wear out and get replaced just as they do in man-made machines.
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