分子推进:由RNA聚合酶驱动的DNA的化学传感和化学反应
Hua Yu1, Kyubong Jo, Kristy L Kounovsky
1Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, 425 Henry Mall, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|April 9, 2009
概括
研究人员展示了分子推进,其中DNA-RNA聚合酶复合体使用转录基质自主移动. 这种生物分子系统表现出类似于核三酸盐的化学反应的定向运动.
科学领域:
- 生物物理学的生物物理.
- 分子生物学分子生物学
- 纳米技术 纳米技术
背景情况:
- 细胞表现出化学反应,以响应环境化学信号而移动.
- 以前的合成系统表现出化学作用,但在生理条件下对生物分子群体的控制缺乏.
研究的目的:
- 为了证明生物分子复合体的自主运动和定向迁移.
- 研究由转录驱动的"分子推进"机制.
主要方法:
- 使用DNA模板和关联RNA聚合酶 (RNAPs).
- 由核三酸盐 (NTP) 作为燃料驱动的研究运动.
- 在NTP度梯度中分析了迁移模式.
主要成果:
- 在由NTPs驱动的DNA-RNAP复合体中观察到的化学动力运动.
- 证明了复合物的偏向迁移到NTP梯度中,模仿化学反应.
- 确定RNAP转录活动会使DNA模板变形,增强运动性.
结论:
- 建立了第一个生物分子复杂化学动力学和化学动力学类似行为的实验证据.
- 介绍了"分子推进"作为指导纳米机器的新型机制.
- 开辟了利用外部触发器设计和控制纳米机器的道路.
相关概念视频
Bacterial RNA Polymerase
Unlike eukaryotes, bacteria use a single RNA Polymerase (RNAP) to transcribe all genes. The different subunits of bacterial RNAPhave distinct functions. The multisubunit structure of the bacterial RNAP helps the enzyme to maintain catalytic function, facilitate assembly, interact with DNA and RNA, and self-regulate its activity.
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
In most genes, the transcription site is a single base present upstream of the coding sequence. Though RNAP is a catalytically efficient enzyme, it does not recognize...
The Replisome
DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
The Replisome
DNA replication is carried out by a large complex of proteins that act in a coordinated matter to achieve high-fidelity DNA replication. Together this complex is known as the DNA replication machinery or the replisome.
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
The synthesis of the leading and lagging strands is a highly coordinated process. To explain this, the “Trombone model” was proposed by Bruce Alberts in 1980. The DNA loop formation starts when a primer is synthesized on the parent lagging strand. The loop grows with the...
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...
Bacterial Transcription
RNA polymerase (RNAP) carries out DNA-dependent RNA synthesis in both bacteria and eukaryotes. Bacteria do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. So, transcription and translation occur simultaneously, on the same DNA template.
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Transcription can be divided into three main stages, each involving distinct DNA sequences to guide the polymerase. These are:
Labeling DNA Probes
DNA probes are fragments of DNA labeled with a reporter tag to enable their detection or purification. The resulting labeled DNA probes can then hybridize to target nucleic acid sequences through complementary base-pairing, and may be used to recover or identify these regions.
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...
Radioisotopes, fluorophores, or small molecule binding partners like biotin or digoxigenin, are the most widely used reporter tags for labeling DNA probes. These labels can be attached to the probe DNA molecule via...


