The small size of molecular motors has hindered, in many ways,
the studies of their physical mechanisms. In this study, we
take the advantage of the small size of molecular motors to
reconstruct the motor potential profile from time series of
motor positions measured in single molecule experiments. The
chemical reaction in a molecular motor has many occupancy
states, each having a different effect on the motor motion.
The overall effect of the chemical reaction on the motor
motion can be characterized by the motor potential profile.
We are going to discuss the mathematical framework and the
numerical method for constructing motor potential profiles.
We are also going to discuss the chemical efficiency and
mechanical efficiency defined based on motor potential profile
and discuss their implications for motor mechanisms.