title: Model of RecA-mediated homologous recognition.
abstract: We consider theoretically the homology search between a long double-stranded DNA and a RecA-single-stranded DNA nucleofilament, emphasizing the polymeric nature of the search and the ability of double-stranded DNA to overcome the difference in pitch between itself and the nucleofilament by thermally activated stretching from the canonical B state to the metastable, stretched S state. Our analytical first-passage-time analysis agrees well with experimental data, predicts new dependencies on the intracellular fluid viscosity and ionic strength, and strongly suggests that initial homologous recognition involves a three base-pair seed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Physicochimie-Curie, CNRS/UMR 168, Institut Curie, 26 Rue d'Ulm, F-75248 Paris Cedex 5, France.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Dorfman
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fulconis
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dutreix
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Viovy
mesh_terms: D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D001665:Binding Sites; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004265:DNA Helicases; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009038:Motion; D011485:Protein Binding; D011938:Rec A Recombinases / Q000737:chemistry*; D017385:Sequence Homology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011938:Rec A Recombinases; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; D004265:DNA Helicases