Ergodic Pumping: a mechanism to drive biomolecular conformation changes

Robert S MacKay and David J C MacKay

It is proposed that a significant contribution to the power stroke of myosin and similar conformation changes in other biomolecules is the osmotic pressure of a single molecule (e.g. a phosphate ion) expanding a trap.

Submitted to Physica D, 30th June 2005. Corrected 10th September 2005. Further revised February 2006.

Published version available from this link (2006/March)

Note on the 10th Sept 2005 correction: On 4 July 2005, I noted a niggle with the presentation of our simulations. The simulations themselves were accurate, but the conclusions were not fully justified. In the corrected paper we implemented a slightly different Hamiltonian system. DJCM

February 2006 version

postscript (Cambridge UK).

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September 2005 version

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related publications.
David MacKay's: home page, publications. bibtex file.
Canadian mirrors: home page, publications. bibtex file.