Supercoiling-regulated liquid-crystalline packaging of topologically-constrained, nucleosome-free DNA molecules

Biochemistry
Z ReichA Minsky

Abstract

Electron microscopy and circular dichroism studies of cholesteric aggregates derived from topologically-constrained DNA molecules indicate that the overall morphology and structural properties of these aggregates are fundamentally different from those characterizing condensed structures of nonconstrained DNA species. Specifically, the cholesteric pitch and twist of all hitherto characterized lyotropic mesophases of biopolymers--including those obtained from linear DNA--depend predominantly upon environmental parameters such as the dielectric constant of the solvent. In contrast, the properties of aggregates derived from closed circular supercoiled DNA are found to be solely and directly dictated by the superhelical density and handedness. On the basis of these results, as well as on the demonstrated ubiquity of liquid-crystalline DNA organizations in vivo, we suggest that supercoiling-regulated liquid crystallinity represents an effective packaging mode of nucleosome-free, topologically-constrained DNA molecules in living systems.

References

Feb 1, 1992·Molecular Microbiology·K Drlica
Oct 20, 1992·Journal of Molecular Biology·A V VologodskiiN R Cozzarelli
Jan 1, 1991·Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·G Yagil
Jun 11, 1991·Biochemistry·C BustamanteE Builes
Nov 1, 1990·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·J A McClellanD M Lilley
Jun 20, 1990·Journal of Molecular Biology·T C BolesN R Cozzarelli
Feb 4, 1988·Nature·T E StrzeleckaR L Rill
Jan 1, 1986·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·R L Rill
Nov 1, 1986·Biopolymers·Y A ShinG L Eichhorn
Dec 25, 1980·Journal of Molecular Biology·J Widom, R L Baldwin
Feb 1, 1984·Biopolymers·Y A Shin, G L Eichhorn

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 15, 2004·Journal of Structural Biology·Steven B Zimmerman
Jun 5, 2002·Journal of Controlled Release : Official Journal of the Controlled Release Society·Jung-hua Steven KuoJong-yuh Cherng
Jun 1, 1996·Current Opinion in Structural Biology·V A Bloomfield
Jan 1, 2000·Journal of Biomolecular Structure & Dynamics·G BischoffS Hoffmann
Jun 4, 1999·Antisense & Nucleic Acid Drug Development·T AntonyT J Thomas
Dec 17, 2008·Journal of Bacteriology·Arnon LieberOhad Medalia
May 20, 2004·Journal of Bacteriology·Daphna Frenkiel-KrispinSharon Grayer Wolf
Dec 3, 2008·The Journal of Chemical Physics·José Esio Bessa RamosRenko de Vries
Feb 7, 1998·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·B PitardJ Crouzet
Jul 11, 2001·Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications·J Ruiz-ChicaF J Ramírez
Sep 3, 1999·FEBS Letters·N J ZuidamA Minsky
Dec 17, 2009·Chemistry : a European Journal·Pei YuanChengzhong Yu
Oct 4, 2005·Plasmid·Kurt Nordström
Oct 24, 2014·Advanced Materials·Ben LiuShunai Che
May 14, 2004·Annual Review of Biophysics and Biomolecular Structure·Abraham Minsky
Nov 1, 1995·International Journal of Radiation Biology·M Spotheim-MaurizotM Charlier
Mar 19, 2003·Critical Reviews in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology·Miguel Angel MedinaFrancisca Sánchez-Jiménez
Jun 14, 2013·Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, Materials for Biology and Medicine·Ben LiuShunai Che
Jan 4, 2013·Chemical Communications : Chem Comm·Yuanyuan CaoShunai Che

❮ 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.