Cooperation is a strategy that has been adopted by groups of organisms to execute complex tasks more efficiently than single entities. Cooperation increases the robustness and flexibility of the working groups and permits sharing of the workload among individuals. However, the utilization of this strategy in artificial systems at the molecular level, which could enable substantial advances in microrobotics and nanotechnology, remains highly challenging. Here, we demonstrate molecular transportation through the cooperative action of a large number of artificial molecular machines, photoresponsive DNA-conjugated microtubules driven by kinesin motor proteins. Mechanical communication via conjugated photoresponsive DNA enables these microtubules to organize into groups upon photoirradiation. The groups of transporters load and transport cargo, and cargo unloading is achieved by dissociating the groups into single microtubules. The group formation permits the loading and transport of cargoes with larger sizes and in larger numbers over long distances compared with single transporters. We also demonstrate that cargo can be collected at user-determined locations defined by ultraviolet light exposure. This work demonstrates cooperative task performance by molecular machines, which will help to construct molecular robots with advanced functionalities in the future.

中文翻译：

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一群分子机器的协同货物运输

合作是生物群体采用的一种策略，用于比单个实体更有效地执行复杂任务。合作提高了工作组的稳健性和灵活性，并允许在个人之间分担工作量。然而，在分子水平的人工系统中利用这种策略，可以使微型机器人和纳米技术取得重大进展，仍然具有很大的挑战性。在这里，我们通过大量人工分子机器、由驱动蛋白驱动的光响应 DNA 共轭微管的协同作用来展示分子运输。通过共轭的光响应 DNA 进行的机械通讯使这些微管能够在光照射后组织成组。运输者组装载和运输货物，货物卸载是通过将基团分解成单个微管来实现的。与单个运输机相比，组队形式允许长距离装载和运输更大尺寸和更多数量的货物。我们还证明可以在用户确定的由紫外线照射定义的位置收集货物。这项工作展示了分子机器的协同任务性能，这将有助于在未来构建具有先进功能的分子机器人。我们还证明可以在用户确定的由紫外线照射定义的位置收集货物。这项工作展示了分子机器的协同任务性能，这将有助于在未来构建具有先进功能的分子机器人。我们还证明可以在用户确定的由紫外线照射定义的位置收集货物。这项工作展示了分子机器的协同任务性能，这将有助于在未来构建具有先进功能的分子机器人。