An autonomous molecular transport system using DNAs and motor proteins in molecular communication

This paper describes a molecular transport system in molecular communication that uses the machinery in living cells. The molecular transport system requires: 1) loading of the specified cargo molecules at a loading site (at a sender); 2) transport of the loaded cargoes to an unloading site (to a receiver); and 3) unloading of the transported cargoes at the unloading site, all without using external stimuli. Through the DNA strand exchange at a loading site and at an unloading site, and through motility of a biological motor system (kinesins and microtubules), the authors of this paper constructed a molecular transport system and demonstrated that kinesin-driven microtubules autonomously load, transport and unload cargoes to which a specified DNA strand is attached.