Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

DNA Helicases

DNA Helicases

DNA unwinding helicase enzymes are a type of motor protein. Motor proteins can translocate along filaments or polymers using energy generated from ATP hydrolysis. Helicases are involved in all the important cellular processes where DNA unwinding is required, such as DNA replication, repair, recombination, and transcription. They are present in all living organisms, but vary in their structure, function, and mechanism of action. For example, in prokaryotes, DnaB helicase binds and translocates...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Osmotic pressure regulates DNA labelling and transcription with dCas9-SunTag system in live cells.

Nature communications·2025

Same author

Mechanically Regulated Biphasic Chromatin Dynamics during Cellular Necrosis.

The journal of physical chemistry letters·2025

Same author

Quantum Dot-Based Three-Dimensional Single-Particle Tracking Characterizes the Evolution of Spatiotemporal Heterogeneity in Necrotic Cells.

Analytical chemistry·2024

Same author

Single-molecule reconstruction of eukaryotic factor-dependent transcription termination.

Nature communications·2024

Same author

Switch of cell migration modes orchestrated by changes of three-dimensional lamellipodium structure and intracellular diffusion.

Nature communications·2023

Same author

Quantifying transport dynamics with three-dimensional single-particle tracking in adherent cells.

STAR protocols·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 2, 2026

A Fluorescence-based Exonuclease Assay to Characterize DmWRNexo, Orthologue of Human Progeroid WRN Exonuclease, and Its Application to Other Nucleases

A Fluorescence-based Exonuclease Assay to Characterize DmWRNexo, Orthologue of Human Progeroid WRN Exonuclease, and Its Application to Other Nucleases

Published on: December 23, 2013

Fluorometric assays for characterizing DNA helicases.

Shuo-Xing Dou¹, Xu Guang Xi

¹Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Physics and Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China. sxdou@aphy.iphy.ac.cn

Methods (San Diego, Calif.)

|May 11, 2010

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This study details fluorometric assays for characterizing DNA helicase motor proteins. These methods measure DNA binding, dissociation kinetics, and unwinding rates, aiding in understanding DNA metabolism.

More Related Videos

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase

Published on: September 27, 2024

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Published on: April 4, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 2, 2026

A Fluorescence-based Exonuclease Assay to Characterize DmWRNexo, Orthologue of Human Progeroid WRN Exonuclease, and Its Application to Other Nucleases

A Fluorescence-based Exonuclease Assay to Characterize DmWRNexo, Orthologue of Human Progeroid WRN Exonuclease, and Its Application to Other Nucleases

Published on: December 23, 2013

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase

Single-Molecule Real-Time Visualization of DNA Unwinding by CMG Helicase

Published on: September 27, 2024

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Visualization of DNA Polymerase Dynamics at G-Quadruplexes

Published on: April 4, 2025

Area of Science:

Molecular Biology
Biochemistry
Biophysics

Background:

DNA helicases are essential motor proteins crucial for DNA metabolism.
They utilize NTP hydrolysis for DNA translocation and unwinding via conformational changes.
Characterizing helicase properties is vital for understanding DNA metabolism and cellular functions.

Purpose of the Study:

To introduce frequently used fluorometric assays for DNA helicase characterization.
To detail methods for assessing equilibrium ATP and DNA binding.
To describe assays for measuring DNA helicase dissociation and unwinding kinetics.

Main Methods:

Fluorometric assays are employed for their simplicity and convenience.
Assays measure equilibrium binding of ATP and DNA.
Kinetics of DNA substrate dissociation and DNA unwinding are determined.

Main Results:

Established fluorometric assays provide insights into DNA helicase basic properties.
The study discusses potential experimental challenges and solutions.
Methods allow for quantitative analysis of helicase activity.

Conclusions:

Fluorometric assays are powerful tools for characterizing DNA helicases.
These assays facilitate a deeper understanding of helicase mechanisms and functions.
The presented methods and troubleshooting advice aid researchers in studying DNA helicases.