Low-force DNA condensation and discontinuous high-force decondensation reveal a loop-stabilizing function of the protein Fis |
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Authors: | Skoko Dunja Yan Jie Johnson Reid C Marko John F |
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Institution: | Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street, Chicago, Illinois 60607-7059, USA. |
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Abstract: | We report single-DNA-stretching experiments showing that the protein Fis, an abundant bacterial chromosome protein of E. coli, mediates a dramatic DNA condensation to zero length. This condensation occurs abruptly when DNA tension is reduced below a protein-concentration-dependent threshold f* < 1 pN. Following condensation, reopening under larger forces proceeds via a series of discrete jumps, indicating that Fis is able to stabilize DNA crossings. Our experiments suggest that Fis may play a role in vivo stabilizing the "loop-domain" structure of the bacterial chromosome. |
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