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Single-Molecule Imaging of LacI Diffusing Along Nonspecific DNA

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Biophysics of DNA-Protein Interactions

Part of the book series: Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering ((BIOMEDICAL))

Abstract

Transcription factors, restriction enzymes, and RNA polymerases are proteins that function by binding to their specific target sites on DNA [1, 2]. The DNA targets for these proteins are typically a few tens of base pairs long, while the chromosomes contain over a million base pairs of DNA (E. coli, for example, has 4.6 million base pairs); therefore, before reaching their targets, it is inevitable that DNA-binding ­proteins encounter nonspecific DNA first. In this process, protein–nonspecific-DNA binding does occur (although with weaker affinity than DNA target binding [3]) and this interaction affects the specific-DNA targeting rate of the protein. In order to regulate the targeting rate of DNA-binding proteins, which is an important step for gene expression regulations, the mechanisms of protein interaction with nonspecific DNA must be elucidated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO, 63130, USA

    Y. M. Wang

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  1. Y. M. Wang
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  2. R. H. Austin
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Physics, Northeastern University, Forsyth Street 110, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Mark C. Williams

  2. College of Medicine, Dept. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, First Street SW., 200, Rochester, 55905, Minnesota, USA

    L. James Maher III

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Wang, Y.M., Austin, R.H. (2010). Single-Molecule Imaging of LacI Diffusing Along Nonspecific DNA. In: Williams, M., Maher, L. (eds) Biophysics of DNA-Protein Interactions. Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92808-1_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-92808-1_2

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