Re-engineering of protein motors to understand mechanisms biasing random motion and generating collective dynamics.

A considerable amount of insight into the mechanisms of protein-based biomolecular motors has been accumulated over decades of research. However, our knowledge about the design principles of these motors is still limited. Even less is known about the design of multi-motor systems that perform various functions within the cell. Here we focus on constructive (or synthetic) approaches to biomolecular motors that could make a breakthrough in our understanding. Recent achievements include studies at different hierarchical levels of complexity: re-engineering of individual motors, construction of multi-motor systems, and generation of large-scale complex behaviour. We then propose a strategy where the collective behaviour can be repeatedly tested upon modifying individual motors, which may provide important clues about how biomolecular motors and their systems are designed.