Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Studying DNA Looping by Single-Molecule FRET
Published on: June 28, 2014
Fluidification of Entanglements by a DNA Bending Protein
Yair A G Fosado1, Jamieson Howard2, Simon Weir1
1School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh EH9 3FD, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
In spite of the nanoscale and single-molecule insights into nucleoid associated proteins (NAPs), their role in modulating the mesoscale viscoelasticity of entangled DNA has been overlooked so far. By combining microrheology and molecular dynamics simulation, we find that the abundant NAP "integration host factor" (IHF) lowers the viscosity of entangled λDNA 20-fold at physiological concentrations and stoichiometries. Our results suggest that IHF may play a previously unappreciated role in resolving DNA entanglements and in turn may be acting as a "genomic fluidizer" for bacterial genomes.
Related Concept Videos
Single-Strand DNA Binding Proteins
DNA Topoisomerases
Types and Mechanism of action
Topoisomerases are divided into two main types. ...
DNA Helicases
The DNA Helix
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
DNA as a Genetic Template

