title: Driving proteins off DNA using applied tension.
abstract: Proteins that bind DNA so as to reduce its end-to-end length can be dissociated by application of force. The thermodynamics of this process are discussed, with special attention to the case of histones bound to DNA (i.e., a string of nucleosomes, or chromatin fiber). The histone octamer is predicted to be driven off chromatin fiber for tensions >2 piconewtons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, The University of Illinois at Chicago, 60607-7059, USA. marko@isolda.phy.uic.edu
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Marko
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Siggia
mesh_terms: D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D002843:Chromatin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006657:Histones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008956:Models, Chemical; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D002843:Chromatin; D006657:Histones; D011506:Proteins; D004247:DNA