Searching for targets on a model DNA: Effects of inter-segment hopping, detachment and re-attachment

Kavli Affiliate: Debanjan Chowdhury

| First 5 Authors: Debanjan Chowdhury, , , ,

| Summary:

For most of the important processes in DNA metabolism, a protein has to reach a specific binding site on the DNA. The specific binding site may consist of just a few base pairs while the DNA is usually several millions of base pairs long. How does the protein search for the target site? What is the most efficient mechanism for a successful search? Motivated by these fundamental questions on intracellular biological processes, we have developed a model for searching a specific site on a model DNA by a single protein. We have made a comparative quantitative study of the efficiencies of sliding, inter-segmental hoppings and detachment/re-attachments of the particle during its search for the specific site on the DNA. We also introduce some new quantitative measures of {it efficiency} of a search process by defining a relevant quantity, which can be measured in {it in-vitro} experiments.

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