title: DNA: an extensible molecule.
abstract: The force-displacement response of a single duplex DNA molecule was measured. The force saturates at a plateau around 70 piconewtons, which ends when the DNA has been stretched about 1.7 times its contour length. This behavior reveals a highly cooperative transition to a state here termed S-DNA. Addition of an intercalator suppresses this transition. Molecular modeling of the process also yields a force plateau and suggests a structure for the extended form. These results may shed light on biological processes involving DNA extension and open the route for mechanical studies on individual molecules in a previously unexplored range.
authors.affiliation: Institut Curie URA Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cluzel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lebrun
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavery
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Viovy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chatenay
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caron
mesh_terms: D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D012984:Software
chemical_list: D004247:DNA