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Underwound DNA under tension: Structure, elasticity, and sequence-dependent behaviors

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

M.Y. Sheinin
S. Forth
J.F. Marko
M.D. Wang

Abstract

DNA melting under torsion plays an important role in a wide variety of cellular processes. In the present Letter, we have investigated DNA melting at the single-molecule level using an angular optical trap. By directly measuring force, extension, torque, and angle of DNA, we determined the structural and elastic parameters of torsionally melted DNA. Our data reveal that under moderate forces, the melted DNA assumes a left-handed structure as opposed to an open bubble conformation and is highly torsionally compliant. We have also discovered that at low forces melted DNA properties are highly dependent on DNA sequence. These results provide a more comprehensive picture of the global DNA force-torque phase diagram. © 2011 American Physical Society.

Date Published

Journal

Physical Review Letters

Volume

107

Issue

10

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-80052387844&doi=10.1103%2fPhysRevLett.107.108102&partnerID=40&md5=d989fb3bcdc4a089b00b237cc24cc2b9

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevLett.107.108102

Research Area

Group (Lab)

Michelle Wang Group

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