Polymer Dynamics of Knotted DNA

派：多伊尔，帕特里克·S·建议编号：1602406非常长的分子，如聚合物和DNA，可以自我折叠并缠绕在一起。这项拟议的研究的目标是研究在单个DNA分子中创建和松弛这些结的过程。微流体通道和电场将被用来操纵单个分子。该项目的发现可能会影响未来用于基因组分析的仪器的设计。纽结是最古老的人类工具之一，用于升起风帆、缝合伤口和编织衣服。它们也自然地存在于非常长的聚合物中，如DNA。这个项目的中心目标是发展对单个聚合物分子上的结动力学的理解。将进行单分子DNA实验、计算机模拟和标度理论。该项目的三个主要目标是：(1)了解DNA上的物理结是如何松弛的，(2)研究聚合物上的结在电场推动下或自由扩散时如何移动，以及(3)开发纳米流体设备来探测耦合结松弛和对流的过程。该项目将进一步吸引高中教师和本科生参与研究机会。将开发可供小学教师使用的材料，通过将结点和拓扑学中的概念与日常现象联系起来，如缠绕的线和耳机线。

PI: Doyle, Patrick S.Proposal Number: 1602406Very long molecules, like polymers and DNA, can double over themselves and get entangled in knots. The goal of the proposed research is to study the processes of creating and relaxing these knots in single DNA molecules. Microfluidic channels and electric fields will be used to manipulate individual molecules. Discoveries from the project could impact the design of future instruments used in genomic analysis.Knots are among the most ancient human tools used for hoisting of sails, suturing of wounds, and weaving of clothing. They also naturally occur in very long polymers such as DNA. The central goal of this project is to develop an understanding of knot dynamics on single polymer molecules. Single molecule DNA experiments, computer simulations, and scaling theory will be performed. The three main objectives of the project are: (1) understand how physical knots on DNA relax, (2) study how knots on a polymer move when pushed by fields or freely diffuse, and (3) develop nanofluidic devices to probe processes which couple knot relaxation and convection. The project will further engage high school teachers and undergraduates in research opportunities. Materials will be developed that can be used by grade school teachers to introduce concepts in knots and topology by linking them to everyday phenomena, such as the entangling strings and headphone cords.