Precision Attachment of Individual F₁-ATPase Biomolecular Motors on Nanofabricated Substrates

The ability to precisely position and orient biological molecules on engineered substrates is an enabling technology critical to the long-term goal of integrating biomolecular motors with nano-electro-mechanical systems. Electron beam lithography and nanoimprinting techniques were used to produce arrays of nickel dots (50−200 nm diameter). Analysis using fluorescence (of microspheres attached to the γ subunit) and atomic force microscopy of these arrays demonstrated precise positioning, spacing, and orientation of individual F1-ATPase molecules.