Polymer Dynamics of Knotted DNA

PI：Doyle，帕特里克S.提案编号：1602406非常长的分子，如聚合物和DNA，可以自我折叠并纠缠在一起。这项研究的目的是研究在单个DNA分子中产生和放松这些结的过程。微流体通道和电场将用于操纵单个分子。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。结是人类最古老的工具之一，用于提升帆，包扎伤口和编织衣服。它们也天然存在于非常长的聚合物中，如DNA。该项目的中心目标是发展对单个聚合物分子的结动力学的理解。单分子DNA实验，计算机模拟和标度理论将被执行。该项目的三个主要目标是：（1）了解DNA上的物理结如何松弛，（2）研究聚合物上的结在被场推动或自由扩散时如何移动，以及（3）开发纳米流体设备来探测结松弛和对流耦合的过程。该项目将进一步吸引高中教师和本科生参与研究机会。将开发的材料，可用于小学教师介绍结和拓扑学的概念，通过将它们与日常现象，如纠缠的字符串和耳机线。

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.