Tuesday, May 20
1:30 PM-2:30 PM
Chair: Charles R. Doering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Ballroom I, II, III - Level B
Biological cells contain microscopic robotic machinery that is used for cell motility, for transport of vesicles and organelles within cells, to move protein molecules across internal membranes, to partition chromosomes at cell division, and to manufacture the entire biomolecular machinery of the cell. Unlike the macroscopic machinery of everyday experience, these molecular motors function in a regime in which Brownian motion plays an important role. Chemical energy is used to rectify the Brownian motion and hence to drive a molecular motor in a particular direction. The speaker will discuss two examples, both associated with microtubules: kinesin, which is a motor protein that "walks'' along microtubules; and chromosome transport, which is driven by the depolymerization of the microtubule itself.
Charles S. Peskin
Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences
New York University
DS97 Homepage | Program Updates|
Registration | Hotel Information | Transportation | Program-at-a-Glance | Program Overview