Toy model for molecular motors

A hopping model for molecular motors is presented consisting of a state with asymmetric hopping rates with period 2 and a state with uniform hopping rates. State changes lead to a stationary unidirectional current of a particle. The current is explicitly calculated as a function of the rate of state changes, including also an external bias field. The Einstein relation between the linear mobility of the particle and its diffusion coefficient is investigated. The power input into the system is derived, as well as the power output resulting from the work performed against the bias field. The efficiency of this model is found to be rather small. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.