Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Cell Size01:22

Cell Size

126.5K
Cell sizes vary widely among and within organisms. Bacterial cells range between 1-10 micrometers (μm)and are considerably smaller than most eukaryotic cells. The smallest bacteria are 0.1 μm in diameter—about a thousand times smaller than eukaryotic cells, which typically range from 10-100 μm.
Surface Area
Cells can take in nutrients and water via diffusion through the plasma membrane itself or through specific channels in the membrane. The area of the membrane surrounding...
126.5K
Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes03:21

Genome Size and the Evolution of New Genes

9.0K
While every living organism has a genome of some kind (be it RNA, or DNA), there is considerable variation in the sizes of these blueprints. One major factor that impacts genome size is whether the organism is prokaryotic or eukaryotic. In prokaryotes, the genome contains little to no non-coding sequence, such that genes are tightly clustered in groups or operons sequentially along the chromosome. Conversely, the genes in eukaryotes are punctuated by long stretches of non-coding sequence.
9.0K
Gene-Environment Interactions01:20

Gene-Environment Interactions

1.1K
Gene expression is a dynamic process that is significantly influenced by environmental factors. This interaction underlies the complex nature of biological development and the phenotypic differences observed among individuals, even among those with identical genetic makeups. Factors such as radiation, temperature, behavior, nutrition, and stress play pivotal roles in determining how genes are expressed. The concept of the reaction range is central to understanding this interaction. It posits...
1.1K
Brick Sizes01:21

Brick Sizes

310
Brick sizing plays a crucial role in construction, influencing both the aesthetics and structural integrity of buildings. Bricks are defined by three dimensions: width, thickness, and length. They are commonly designed to fit modular measurements, typically in multiples of 4 inches or 8 inches in width, to facilitate uniform construction and compatibility with other building materials.
Modular bricks are the most common type and are sized to include the mortar joint, which is essential for...
310
DNA Topoisomerases02:02

DNA Topoisomerases

35.2K
Topoisomerases are enzymes that relax overwound DNA molecules during various cell processes, including DNA replication and transcription. These enzymes regulate positive and negative DNA supercoiling without changing the nucleotide sequence. DNA overwinding in a clockwise direction results in positively supercoiled DNA, whereas underwinding in a counterclockwise direction produces negatively supercoiled DNA.
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types. ...
35.2K
DNA Helicases00:55

DNA Helicases

23.9K
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...
23.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Twist-stretch relations in nucleic acids.

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2023
Same author

Non-linear Hamiltonian models for DNA.

European biophysics journal : EBJ·2022
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Characterization of Nanocrystal Size Distribution using Raman Spectroscopy with a Multi-particle Phonon Confinement Model
06:54

Characterization of Nanocrystal Size Distribution using Raman Spectroscopy with a Multi-particle Phonon Confinement Model

Published on: August 22, 2015

14.2K

DNA size in confined environments.

Marco Zoli1

  • 1School of Science and Technology, University of Camerino, I-62032 Camerino, Italy. marco.zoli@unicam.it.

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics : PCCP
|June 1, 2019
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Crowders influence short DNA molecules by altering their shape and twist. Confinement location dictates whether DNA stretches or twists, revealing a unique relationship between these properties.

More Related Videos

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides
08:45

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Published on: July 1, 2013

10.1K
Creating Two-Dimensional Patterned Substrates for Protein and Cell Confinement
08:36

Creating Two-Dimensional Patterned Substrates for Protein and Cell Confinement

Published on: September 6, 2011

13.1K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Characterization of Nanocrystal Size Distribution using Raman Spectroscopy with a Multi-particle Phonon Confinement Model
06:54

Characterization of Nanocrystal Size Distribution using Raman Spectroscopy with a Multi-particle Phonon Confinement Model

Published on: August 22, 2015

14.2K
Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides
08:45

Fabrication of Spatially Confined Complex Oxides

Published on: July 1, 2013

10.1K
Creating Two-Dimensional Patterned Substrates for Protein and Cell Confinement
08:36

Creating Two-Dimensional Patterned Substrates for Protein and Cell Confinement

Published on: September 6, 2011

13.1K

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Computational Biology
  • Molecular Modeling

Background:

  • Crowded environments significantly impact DNA conformation.
  • Understanding DNA behavior in confinement is crucial for molecular design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how confinement strength and profile affect DNA end-to-end distance and twist.
  • To explore the relationship between DNA stretching and twisting under varying crowd conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Mesoscopic Hamiltonian modeling of double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA).
  • Incorporation of base pair fluctuations as temperature-dependent trajectories.
  • Simulation of spatially modulated crowder distributions.

Main Results:

  • DNA elongation shows non-monotonic variation with confinement strength.
  • Mid-chain confinement leads to helix over-twisting and increased end-to-end distance.
  • End-chain confinement results in helix untwisting and molecular stretching.

Conclusions:

  • A unique link exists between DNA stretching and twisting, dependent on crowder distribution.
  • Environmental control offers potential for designing specific DNA shapes.