title: Elastic energy of protein-DNA chimeras.
abstract: We present experimental measurements of the equilibrium elastic energy of protein-DNA chimeras, for two different sets of attachment points of the DNA "molecular spring" on the surface of the protein. Combining these with measurements of the enzyme's activity under stress and a mechanical model of the system, we determine how the elastic energy is partitioned between the DNA and the protein. The analysis shows that the protein is mechanically stiffer than the DNA spring.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1596, USA.
authors.forename: Chiao-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Tseng
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zocchi
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rolih
authors.forename: Alex J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Levine
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D004735:Energy Transfer; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D004247:DNA