Modeling and role of feedback controlled stochastic ratchets in cellular transport

This paper develops a model for Brownian ratchets to analyze the cases where the transport characteristics are affected by feedback mechanisms. One main application of this approach is to gain insights on the intracellular transport of motor proteins (such as Kinesin and Dynein) on a microtubular track, and on the role of feedback control on their transport. The model comprises of a stochastic system where the system switches between two stochastic differential systems, where the switching criteria is a state-dependent stochastic variable. Simulations demonstrate that the feedback mechanism helps achieve an increased average velocity of transport and corroborates the hypothesis that a motor protein can achieve higher speeds of transport by restricting or enabling attachment/detachment of ATP/ADP like molecules depending on conformational changes in the motor-protein.