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Rotational drag on DNA: a single molecule experiment.

Philippe Thomen1, Ulrich Bockelmann, François Heslot

  • 1Laboratoire de Physique de la Matière Condensée, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France.

Physical Review Letters
|June 13, 2002
PubMed
Summary

We studied rotational drag on DNA molecules by measuring forces during unzipping. Rotational friction torque increases with DNA length and cranking speed, impacting opening force.

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Physical Chemistry

Background:

  • Understanding DNA mechanics is crucial for molecular biology.
  • Rotational dynamics of DNA influence its function and interactions.
  • Previous studies have not fully quantified rotational drag effects on DNA unzipping.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of rotational drag on double-stranded DNA during mechanical unzipping.
  • To quantify the relationship between rotational friction torque and DNA length and angular velocity.
  • To estimate the magnitude of rotational torque for a specific DNA length and rotation rate.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a single-molecule configuration to study DNA mechanics.
  • Measured forces during the mechanical opening (unzipping) and closing of the DNA double helix.

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  • Cranked one end of the DNA molecule while the other end was free to rotate.

    • Main Results:

    • Rotational drag contributes an additional force during DNA double helix opening.
    • The effect of rotational drag increases with the length of the DNA molecule.
    • Rotational drag is approximately proportional to the angular velocity of cranking.

    Conclusions:

    • Rotational friction torque is a significant factor in DNA mechanical manipulation.
    • An estimated torque of ~1k(B)T was observed for 10,000 base pairs of DNA at 2000 turns/sec.
    • These findings provide insights into the physical properties of DNA under torsional stress.