The efficiency of the molecular motors

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the energy efficiency of molecular motors, demonstrating that their efficiency is strictly bounded by 1 due to energy dissipation in their environment and chemical reactions.

Contribution

It provides a theoretical framework using the Fokker-Planck equation to quantify the efficiency bounds of molecular motors.

Findings

Efficiency is strictly less than 1 due to dissipation.

Both Stokes and thermodynamic efficiencies are bounded by 1.

Energy dissipation occurs in the environment and chemical processes.

Abstract

Molecular motors convert chemical energy into mechanical work while operating in an environment dominated by Brownian motion. The aim of this paper is to explore the flow of energy between the molecular motors and its surroundings, in particular, its efficiency. Based on the Fokker-Planck equation with either $N$ or infinite chemical states, we find that the energy efficiency of the molecular motors, whether the Stokes efficiency or the usual thermodynamic efficiency, is strictly bounded by 1, because of the dissipation of the energy in both the overdamped surroundings and in the process of the chemical reaction.