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Updated: Mar 1, 2026

DNA-Tethered RNA Polymerase for Programmable In vitro Transcription and Molecular Computation
Published on: December 29, 2021
A tale of toroids in DNA metabolism
1The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10021, USA. manju@mod.rockefeller.edu
Abstract:
A strikingly large number of the proteins involved in DNA metabolism adopt a toroidal -- or ring-shaped -- quaternary structure, even though they have completely unrelated functions. Given that these proteins all use DNA as a substrate, their convergence to one shape is probably not a coincidence. Ring-forming proteins may have been selected during evolution for advantages conferred by the toroidal shape on their interactions with DNA.
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