Molecular Machines are molecules that change their shapes or have significant moving parts that perform work during their functional processes. These changes in shape are reversible and can be driven by energy sources, such as ATP (adenosine triphosphate), to facilitate their functions. This energy can be harnessed for mechanical work. Molecular machines participate in various essential biological processes, including catalyzing biochemical reactions, converting biochemical energy into mechanical work, transporting cargo and small molecules, signaling environmental changes to cells, and fulfilling numerous other functions within living organisms.
At ISMB we study macromolecular machines involved in protein folding, transcription and motility using three-dimensional electron microscopy, single particle cryo-electron microscopy and electron tomography.