ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Molecular motor

Imagine that you have a toy car and you want it to move forward. So, you push it with your hand and it starts rolling. Now, think of a similar thing happening inside your body. There are tiny machines called molecular motors that make things move around inside you.

Molecular motors are like little cars, but they are made up of tiny parts called molecules. These motors are found in every cell of your body, and they help to move things around inside the cell. Imagine that your body is like a factory and these motors are like the workers who carry things from one place to another.

These tiny molecular motors are amazing machines. They are about the size of a virus, and they are incredibly powerful. They can move things from one location to another, they can generate force and work, and they can even convert energy from one form to another.

One example of a molecular motor is called myosin. This motor moves along tiny tracks inside your muscles and helps them to contract and relax. Another example is kinesin, which helps to move things around inside your cells, like transporting nutrients or waste.

Molecular motors are very important for our body to function properly. They help to maintain the proper functioning of our cells and tissues, and they play a crucial role in many physiological processes like digestion, respiration, and movement.

Therefore, next time you see a toy car, remember that inside your body, there are tiny cars that are helping things move around – these are the amazing molecular motors.