Here is an article that talks about how cells store and release energy. It deviates from the traditional use of chemical storehouse cells because this was observed in sperm cells of horse shoe crabs.

Fertilization relies on sperm cells for most, if not all, sexually reproductive animals. They need to break into the protective surrounding of an egg cell. Biochemical reactions in cells are guided by enzymes, specialized proteins that speed up chemical reactions. Sperm Cells of horse shoe crabs however, differed in this process. It utilizes molecular harpoons, like that of barbed spear used in hunting, to penetrate through the egg’s membrane.

As scientist have observed, this harpoon consists of two proteins intertwined in a bundle of filaments. What they can’t decipher however, is the source of energy of this harpoon, so as to enable it to fire the spear in that certain level. Using a high power telescope microscope however, scientists have imaged this spear down to one billionth of a meter. This allowed them to discover how it works.

The research team figured out the exact structure of this protein strand, consisting of two molecules. These two molecules were actin and scruin. Actin is the protein involved in cell movement, which is present in muscle tissue where it plays a role in contraction. Scruin however, holds the microfilaments of the core process in a tensioned pattern so that the process is looped. These two molecules are tightly intertwined with each other, developing a slightly unbalanced, almost disfigured, helix. Yet, with this irregularity unfolds a secret that unveils the secret power of the sperm cell. The minor distortion in the helix brought about the internal tension to develop in the filament. As the tension is enclosed inside the sperm cell at the base of the nucleus, it is then patterned to the spring inside of a jack-in-the-box with the cover tightly locked. The latch then opens and the loop harpoons the egg, as a natural signal triggers the mechanism.

As theorized by the researchers, actin normally operates by chemical means; however this process doesn’t entail chemical substance. It plainly involves mechanics, where motions of objects and their responses to forces is concerned.

The essential part of this study is the ever-present protein in all species, including humans is actin. It is involved in various activities like splitting up of cells and tightening of muscles.The actin filaments can accumulate energy like this, then any type of filament or polymer contained in a cell can also imitate this energy storage ability.

Scientists are now open to possibilities that they could fabricate tools and apparatus on the nanoscale, which is beyond the fundamentals of cell biology. This is possible in designing computers and other medical devices, which are potential products of the union of biotechnology and other forms of engineering. Researchers are now looking into various molecular ways that could power up these super machines. It opened a broader prospective that there are a lot of ways of powering machines which were not discovered before. READ ARTICLE