Stretching and immobilization of DNA for studies of protein-DNA interactions at the single-molecule level

Research output: Journal Publications and ReviewsRGC 21 - Publication in refereed journalpeer-review

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Author(s)

Detail(s)

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)185-201
Journal / PublicationNanoscale Research Letters
Volume2
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2007
Externally publishedYes

Abstract

Single-molecule studies of the interactions of DNA and proteins are important in a variety of biological or biotechnology processes ranging from the protein's search for its DNA target site, DNA replication, transcription, or repair, and genome sequencing. A critical requirement for single-molecule studies is the stretching and immobilization of otherwise randomly coiled DNA molecules. Several methods for doing so have been developed over the last two decades, including the use of forces derived from light, magnetic and electric fields, and hydrodynamic flow. Here we review the immobilization and stretching mechanisms for several of these techniques along with examples of single-molecule DNA-protein interaction assays that can be performed with each of them.

Research Area(s)

  • DNA, DNA-protein interactions, Proteins, Single-molecule