Strick, T. R. (2005) Course 6 Single-molecule studies of DNA mechanics and DNA/Protein interactions. Les Houches, 82. pp. 161-209.
Abstract
This chapter discusses single-molecule studies of Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) mechanics and DNA/protein interactions. Physicists are interested in DNA for several reasons. First of all, it is a unique polymer characterized by incredible lengths (up to several centimeters per molecule in the case of human chromosomes) and a very high degree of monodispersity. If certain artificial polymers, such as polystyrene or polyethylene glycol are capable of achieving high degrees of polymerization, it is still very difficult to impose a specific length for the whole sample. Moreover, these artificial polymers are not very rigid at the scale of the monomer; it is shown in the chapter, DNA are more rigid, is (paradoxically) much easier to stretch out. Another important point is that DNA is, for now, the only polymer that may be easily modified and observed by scientists. An ever-growing number of tools in molecular biology-restriction enzymes, ligases, PCR, electrophoresis gels make it possible to cut, reglue, modify, and purify DNA fragments in a manner that is both simple and precise. One can readily obtain large numbers of DNA molecules, each one of them bearing the exact same modifications at the exact same position.
| Item Type: | Paper |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > protein structure, function, modification > protein types > DNA binding protein |
| CSHL Authors: | |
| Communities: | CSHL labs |
| Depositing User: | Matt Covey |
| Date: | 2005 |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Mar 2013 22:01 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Mar 2013 22:01 |
| URI: | https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/27666 |
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