Department of Physics Papers
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
12-1999
Publication Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Volume
96
Issue
25
Start Page
14342
Last Page
14347
DOI
10.1073/pnas.96.25.14342
Abstract
It is well known that transcription can induce torsional stress in DNA, affecting the activity of nearby genes or even inducing structural transitions in the DNA duplex. It has long been assumed that the generation of significant torsional stress requires the DNA to be anchored, forming a limited topological domain, because otherwise it would spin almost freely about its axis. Previous estimates of the rotational drag have, however, neglected the role of small natural bends in the helix backbone. We show how these bends can increase the drag several thousandfold relative to prior estimates, allowing significant torsional stress even in linear unanchored DNA. The model helps explain several puzzling experimental results on structural transitions induced by transcription of DNA.
Recommended Citation
Nelson, P. C. (1999). Transport of Torsional Stress in DNA. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 96 (25), 14342-14347. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.96.25.14342
Date Posted: 01 May 2017
This document has been peer reviewed.