Twist- and Tension-Mediated Elastic Coupling between DNA-Binding Proteins
Twist- and Tension-Mediated Elastic Coupling between DNA-Binding Proteins
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DOI：
10.1103/physrevlett.102.178102
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发表时间：
2009-05-01
影响因子：
8.6
通讯作者：
Spakowitz, Andrew J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Koslover, Elena F.;Spakowitz, Andrew J.
我们研究了施加张力时 DNA 中的弹性应力产生的 DNA 结合蛋白之间的有效相互作用。使用蠕虫链模型，我们计算了在 DNA 中引入多个附近弯曲的自由能量成本。我们发现弯曲变形能促进聚集以拉直接头DNA，而接头的抗扭转性导致两个蛋白质之间的耦合自由能的阻尼振荡。我们计算了蛋白质沿着 DNA 滑动的平均首次相遇时间，这表明在某些情况下，蛋白质组装的最佳施加张力。我们的结果强调，即使在没有施加扭转并且 DNA 末端可以自由旋转的情况下，也需要考虑 DNA 扭曲。 DNA结合蛋白之间的可变范围振荡耦合可能为张力介导的基因调控提供一种通用机制。
We study the effective interaction between DNA-binding proteins that arises from elastic stresses in the DNA when tension is applied. Using the wormlike chain model, we calculate the free energy cost of introducing multiple nearby bends in the DNA. We find that the bend deformation energy promotes aggregation to straighten the linker DNA, while twist resistance of the linker leads to damped oscillations in the coupling free energy between two proteins. We calculate the mean first encounter time for proteins sliding along DNA, indicating, in some cases, an optimal applied tension for protein assembly. Our results highlight the need to consider DNA twist even when no torsion is applied and the DNA ends are free to rotate. The variable-range oscillatory coupling between DNA-binding proteins may provide a versatile mechanism for tension-mediated gene regulation.