Single-molecule Measurements of DNA Topology and Topoisomerases |
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Authors: | Keir C Neuman |
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Institution: | From the Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892 |
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Abstract: | Topological properties of DNA influence its mechanical and biochemical interactions. Genomic DNA is maintained in a state of topological homeostasis by topoisomerases and is subjected to mechanical stress arising from replication and segregation. Despite their fundamental roles, the effects of topology and force have been difficult to ascertain. Developments in single-molecule manipulation techniques have enabled precise control and measurement of the topology of individual DNA molecules under tension. This minireview provides an overview of these single-molecule techniques and illustrates their unique capabilities through a number of specific examples of single-molecule measurements of DNA topology and topoisomerase activity. |
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Keywords: | DNA Gyrase DNA-Protein Interaction DNA Topoisomerase DNA Topology Single-molecule Biophysics Magnetic Tweezers Optical Tweezers |
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