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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

A Simple, Robust, and High Throughput Single Molecule Flow Stretching Assay Implementation for Studying Transport of Molecules Along DNA
Published on: October 1, 2017
Facilitated diffusion of DNA-binding proteins
Konstantin V Klenin1, Holger Merlitz, Jörg Langowski
1Division of Biophysics of Macromolecules, German Cancer Research Center, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract:
The diffusion-controlled limit of reaction times for site-specific DNA-binding proteins is derived from first principles. We follow the generally accepted concept that a protein propagates via two competitive modes, a three-dimensional diffusion in space and a one-dimensional sliding along the DNA. However, our theoretical treatment of the problem is new. The accuracy of our analytical model is verified by numerical simulations. The results confirm that the unspecific binding of protein to DNA, combined with sliding, is capable to reduce the reaction times significantly.
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