Elsevier

Molecules and Cells

Volume 45, Issue 1, January 2022, Pages 33-40
Molecules and Cells

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Single-Molecule Methods for Investigating the Double-Stranded DNA Bendability

https://doi.org/10.14348/molcells.2021.0182Get rights and content
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The various DNA-protein interactions associated with the expression of genetic information involve double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bending. Due to the importance of the formation of the dsDNA bending structure, dsDNA bending properties have long been investigated in the biophysics field. Conventionally, DNA bendability is characterized by innate averaging data from bulk experiments. The advent of single-molecule methods, such as atomic force microscopy, optical and magnetic tweezers, tethered particle motion, and single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer measurement, has provided valuable tools to investigate not only the static structures but also the dynamic properties of bent dsDNA. Here, we reviewed the single-molecule methods that have been used for investigating dsDNA bendability and new findings related to dsDNA bending. Single-molecule approaches are promising tools for revealing the unknown properties of dsDNA related to its bending, particularly in cells.

Keywords:

DNA bending
fluorescence resonance energy transfer
persistence length
polymer mechanics
single-molecule techniques

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