Stochastic nanoswimmer: a multistate model for enzyme self-propulsion and enhanced diffusion

Abstract

Several enzymes exhibit enhanced diffusion in the presence of a substrate. One explanation of this enhancement arises from fluctuating dimer models, which suggest that enzymes have a higher diffusion constant when interacting with substrates compared to when they are free. Another possible mechanism, suggested in both experimental and theoretical studies, is that enzymes act as nanoswimmers. However, existing nanoswimmer models have struggled to account for the exceptionally high self-propulsion speeds observed in experiments, with estimated increases in diffusion due to self-propulsion found to be minimal. In this study, we model enzymes as dimers with fluctuating mobility. We show that even dimers can exhibit run-and-tumble motion when transitioning between states of varying mobility within the enzymatic cycle. By exploring a three-state enzymatic cycle, we identify the conditions under which self-propulsion speeds and increases in diffusion rate consistent with experimental observations can be achieved.