Geometric requirements for gene activation

控制DNA中所含信息的获取对于生物体的发育和适应至关重要。执行遗传信息流（基因表达）早期步骤的装置是小分子机器，通常受到许多线索的高度调节。我们计划研究一个分子机器的水平，它的使用的能量货币的细胞是如何转换成一个有用的输出。通过类比，我们想知道一个多缸发动机是否需要使用所有的燃烧缸，它是否可以运行更少，并且所有连接到车轮上。通过这样做，我们将揭示我们的分子机器的设计和操作原理，提供有关我们如何修改和利用其特性来管理有害细菌，创造途径特异性抑制剂和制造新分子设备的重要信息。我们将研究的设备类型存在于最简单的生物体（细菌）和最复杂的生物体（人类，植物）中。

Controlling access to the information contained in DNA is critical in the development and adaptation of living organisms. The devices that carry out early steps in genetic information flow (gene expression) are small molecular machines often highly regulated by a number of cues. We plan to study one molecular machine at the level of how its use of the energy currency of the cell is converted to a useful output. By analogy, we want to know if a multi-cylinder engine needs to use all its combustion cylinders, can it run on less, and do all connect to the wheels or not. In so doing, we will uncover the design and operating principles of our molecular machine, providing important information about how we might modify and exploit its properties for managing harmful bacteria, creating pathway specific inhibitors and making new molecular devices. The type of device we will study is found in the simplest organisms (bacteria) and amongst the most complex (humans, plants).