title: Elastic model of supercoiling.
abstract: An elastic model for the supercoiling of duplex DNA is developed. The simplest assumptions regarding the elastic properties of double-helical DNA (homogeneous, isotropic, of circular cross section, and remaining straight when unstressed) will generate two orders of superhelicity when stressed. Recent experimental results [Brady, G.W., Fein, D.B. & Brumberger, H. (1976) Nature 264, 231-234] suggest that in supercoiled DNA molecules there are regions where two distinct orders of supercoiling arise, as predicted by this model.
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA; D004548:Elasticity; D008433:Mathematics; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation
chemical_list: D004247:DNA
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Sep;73(9):3068-72
references.pmid: 1067602
references.citation: Nature. 1976 Nov 18;264(5583):231-4
references.pmid: 1004545
references.citation: Nat New Biol. 1971 May 5;231(18):5-8
references.pmid: 5282853
references.citation: J Mol Biol. 1968 Apr 14;33(1):141-71
references.pmid: 4296517
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Nov;72(11):4280-4
references.pmid: 1060106
references.citation: J Mol Biol. 1968 Jul 14;35(1):111-29
references.pmid: 5760559
references.citation: J Mol Biol. 1973 Sep 25;79(3):451-70
references.pmid: 4758062
references.citation: J Mol Biol. 1969 Jul 14;43(1):25-39
references.pmid: 4897794
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1971 Apr;68(4):815-9
references.pmid: 5279522
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Aug;73(8):2639-43
references.pmid: 1066673
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1975 Nov;72(11):4275-9
references.pmid: 172901