title: DNA curtains: novel tools for imaging protein-nucleic acid interactions at the single-molecule level.
abstract: Interactions between proteins and nucleic acids are at the molecular foundations of most key biological processes, including DNA replication, genome maintenance, the regulation of gene expression, and chromosome segregation. A complete understanding of these types of biological processes requires tackling questions with a range of different techniques, such as genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and structural biology. Here, we describe a novel experimental approach called "DNA curtains" that can be used to complement and extend these more traditional techniques by providing real-time information about protein-nucleic acid interactions at the level of single molecules. We describe general features of the DNA curtain technology and its application to the study of protein-nucleic acid interactions in vitro. We also discuss some future developments that will help address crucial challenges to the field of single-molecule biology.
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Bridget E
authors: BE
authors: Collins
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Ling F
authors: LF
authors: Ye
authors: Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Duzdevich
authors: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Columbia University, New York, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Eric C
authors: EC
authors: Greene
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D004058:Diffusion; D057075:Enzyme Assays; D061925:Immobilized Nucleic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D061925:Immobilized Nucleic Acids; D008051:Lipid Bilayers
keywords: Lipid bilayer; Nanofabrication; One-dimensional diffusion; Single molecule; Single-stranded DNA; Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy; Translocation