Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference:	GR/S24671/01
Title:	Mechanics of myosin V, a processive molecular motor
Principal Investigator:	Hoyle, Professor R
Other Investigators:	Turner, Professor M
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department:	Sch of Electronics & Physical Sciences
Organisation:	University of Surrey
Scheme:	First Grant Scheme Pre-FEC
Starts:	05 January 2004	Ends:	04 January 2007	Value (£):	121,643
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:	Chemical Biology Complex fluids & soft solids Condensed Matter Physics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:	No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Summary on Grant Application Form
The aim of this project is to model the mechanical function of myosin V, a molecular motor, and hence investigate its detailed design features. We will focus on information transmission between the two heads of the myosin molecule, and investigate whether this process could be a generic design feature that nature employs to improve the efficiency or power of the processive motor. W e will construct a mechanical model of the forces and torques acting on the molecule as it steps along an actin filament, and study the relationships of the myosin neck lengths, along with the stiff nesses and compliances within the heads and necks to the efficiency of the myosin V gait. In the second phase of the project we will build a dynamic model of myosin stepping, developping differential equations to describe the motion of the components of the molecule, integrating them numerically and producing simulations and movies of the stepping cycle. W e will look at the variation in time of the forces and force moments at the myosin heads, and use statistical mechanical arguments to determine the robustness to thermal fluctuations of strain transmission between the heads. As an extension of our work we will consider whether structural differences between different myosins can be related to differences in their physiological function within the context of our model. Our objective is to provide a better understanding of how the detailed mechanics of myosin relate to its biological function.
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Project URL:	http://personal.maths.surrey.ac.uk/st/R.Hoyle/research/motors/
Further Information:
Organisation Website:	http://www.surrey.ac.uk