PMID: 3746909May 20, 1986Paper

Calculation of the twist and the writhe for representative models of DNA

Journal of Molecular Biology
J H White, W R Bauer

Abstract

The geometric quantities twist (Tw) and writhe (Wr) are of primary importance for a complete description of the structure of DNA. In the case of a closed circular DNA, the sum of Tw and Wr is constant and equal to the linking number, Lk. In this paper we present a general method for calculation of the twist in terms of a pair of curves and a correspondence surface that joins them. The twist of any pair of curves (C1 and C2) may take on different values depending upon their ordering, and in general Tw(C1, C2) is not equal to Tw(C2, C1). We describe four models that may be taken to represent the structure of DNA and compute the twist for both orderings in each case. The four models examined are: I, a regular helix about a linear axis; II, a toroidal helix about a closed circular axis; III, a superhelix about a regular helical axis; and IV, a superhelix about a closed toroidal helix. In cases II and IV these results are also used to calculate Lk and Wr. Case III is used to analyze the winding of DNA in a nucleosome.

References

May 1, 1975·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J E GermondP Chambon
Nov 1, 1975·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D E Depew, J C Wang
Dec 1, 1975·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W Keller
Jan 1, 1978·Annual Review of Biophysics and Bioengineering·W R Bauer
Jan 1, 1979·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J C Wang
Nov 1, 1975·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D E PulleyblankH P Vosberg
Aug 1, 1976·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·F H Crick
Jun 1, 1985·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·E C Uberbacher, G J Bunick
Jul 1, 1966·The Journal of General Physiology·J Vinograd, J Lebowitz
Jan 1, 1981·Annual Review of Biochemistry·M Gellert
Sep 11, 1981·Nucleic Acids Research·A Klug, L C Lutter
Aug 1, 1981·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·D ShoreR L Baldwin
Nov 15, 1983·Journal of Molecular Biology·D Shore, R L Baldwin
Feb 15, 1984·Journal of Molecular Biology·D S Horowitz, J C Wang
Jan 1, 1983·Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology·J C WangK Becherer
Feb 1, 1983·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·G W BradyC J Benham
Nov 1, 1983·Biopolymers·C J Benham
Jul 1, 1982·Cell·J C Wang
Aug 1, 1978·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·F B Fuller

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Feb 5, 1989·Journal of Molecular Biology·R K Tan, S C Harvey
Feb 1, 1988·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J H White, W R Bauer
Feb 1, 1993·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·W R BauerJ H White
Dec 1, 1989·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·M H Hao, W K Olson
Mar 3, 1999·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·S R BhaumikG Govil
Oct 2, 2002·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·Sukesh R Bhaumik, Kandala V R Chary
Jan 1, 2006·Molecular Simulation·Jin Seob Kim, Gregory S Chirikjian
Sep 10, 2010·Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter : an Institute of Physics Journal·Gregory S Chirikjian
Nov 28, 2012·Journal of Mathematical Biology·Maria BarbiJean-Marc Victor
Feb 18, 2006·The Journal of Chemical Physics·C MichelettiD W Summers
Mar 30, 2010·Biophysical Chemistry·Alexandre A VetcherStephen D Levene
Jan 1, 1991·Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·E Palecek
Aug 29, 2014·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Pamela J PerezWilma K Olson
Jan 1, 1994·Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics·M C TesiS G Whittington
Mar 1, 1989·Physical Review A: General Physics·C J Benham
Sep 1, 1995·Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics·J F Marko, E D Siggia
Oct 1, 2005·Nanotechnology·Yan Mei WangRobert H Austin
Oct 8, 2013·Interface Focus·Maria BarbiChristophe Lavelle
Dec 1, 1994·Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics· Janse van Rensburg EJS G Whittington
Apr 24, 2018·Nucleic Acids Research·Shane ScottSabrina R Leslie
Feb 20, 2020·Physical Review. E·François SicardManoel Manghi
Nov 23, 2000·Physical Review. E, Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics·A Goriely, P Shipman
Jun 18, 2017·Physical Review. E·Sumitabha Brahmachari, John F Marko
Mar 20, 2018·Physical Review. E·Sumitabha BrahmachariJohn F Marko
Feb 27, 2021·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Nicolas Clauvelin, Wilma K Olson
Nov 17, 2001·Biomacromolecules·Y S VelichkoA R Khokhlov
May 28, 2021·Science Robotics·Geoffrey M SpinksJavad Foroughi
Apr 1, 1989·Biopolymers·M H Hao, W K Olson
Nov 5, 1990·Journal of Molecular Biology·T E Shrader, D M Crothers
Mar 13, 2012·Journal of Chemical Theory and Computation·Nicolas ClauvelinIrwin Tobias
May 8, 1999·Biophysical Journal·J Ubbink, T Odijk

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
J H White, W R Bauer
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
J C Wang
Physical Review. E, Statistical, Nonlinear, and Soft Matter Physics
R Zandi, J Rudnick
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved