Motion reversal of molecular motor assemblies due to weak noise

Phys Rev Lett. 2011 Feb 11;106(6):068101. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.106.068101. Epub 2011 Feb 11.

Abstract

Bidirectional motion is an example of collective behavior of molecular motors. It occurs at finite noise level in a nonequilibrium system. We consider this problem as a first exit problem. We identify the noise strength by doing an expansion of a master equation and apply the Wentzell-Freidlin theory to define an effective nonequilibrium potential and provide analytical estimates of the reversal time. Our results match very well with the results of stochastic simulations.

MeSH terms

  • Models, Biological*
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / metabolism*
  • Movement*

Substances

  • Molecular Motor Proteins