Mechanism of opening and closing of nucleosomes: single molecule fluorescence studies

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The structure and dynamics of nucleosomes are going to be examined by single molecule fluorescence techniques (single molecule FRET with photon distribution analysis, single molecule multi parameter fluorescence analysis) of freely diffusing particles and in a microfluidic system. By using different FRET pairs between histones and DNA, the gradual opening and closing of nucleosomes, a crucial step in the interaction of DNA-binding proteins with chromatin, shall be characterized in detail. We expect a quantitative understanding of the physical parameters responsible for compacting and decompacting chromatin, and thus the role of these processes in the regulation of gene expression.