title: Dynamic force spectroscopy of protein-DNA interactions by unzipping DNA.
abstract: We demonstrate the first site-specific single-molecule characterization of the prominent activation barrier for the disruption of a protein-DNA binding complex. We achieved this new capability by combining dynamic force spectroscopy with unzipping force analysis of protein association and used the combination to investigate restriction enzyme binding to specific DNA sites. Analysis revealed lifetimes and interaction distances for three protein-DNA interactions. This new method is able to distinguish protein-DNA binding complexes on a site-specific, single-molecule basis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Michelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; C034510:CTCGAG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; C028678:CYCGRG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific