Tethered Particle Microscopy method innovations are found in the following publications: Qian J, Collette D, Finzi L, Dunlap D. Detecting DNA Loops Using Tethered Particle Motion. Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.). 2024; 2694:451-466. PubMed PMID: 37824017;DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3377-9_21 Laura Finzi and David Dunlap. The tethered particle motion and magnetic tweezer techniques: an introduction and some […]
DNA mechanical properties DNA bending and torsional elasticity directly affect most, if not all, genome functions by altering the affinity of proteins for their DNA binding sites, the likelihood of protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions, the activity of DNA enzymes and DNA/chromatin packaging. We study parameters that affect DNA elasticity such as polycations, base pairing, modified
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Elongation through transcription factors Understanding how RNA polymerases transcribe through transcription factors that decorate DNA without interfering with their physiological role is paramount to our understanding of maintenance of transcription regulation. We are particularly interested in roadblocks that alter topology by inducing DNA to wrap, kink or loop. Are these protein-induced DNA topological barriers strong
Loop-based genetic switches represent a ubiquitous regulatory mechanism of transcription. These switches determine developmental choices, such as quiescence versus virulence in bacteriophages, or organ identity in plants. Studying them offers a unique opportunity to discover fundamental regulatory principles because loop-based genetic switches are present in all kingdoms of life. At their basis is the interaction
