Mechanical separation of the complementary strands of DNA

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1997 Oct 28;94(22):11935-40. doi: 10.1073/pnas.94.22.11935.

Abstract

We describe the mechanical separation of the two complementary strands of a single molecule of bacteriophage lambda DNA. The 3' and 5' extremities on one end of the molecule are pulled progressively apart, and this leads to the opening of the double helix. The typical forces along the opening are in the range of 10-15 pN. The separation force signal is shown to be related to the local GC vs. AT content along the molecule. Variations of this content on a typical scale of 100-500 bases are presently detected.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteriophage lambda
  • Base Composition
  • Biophysical Phenomena
  • Biophysics*
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / isolation & purification*
  • DNA, Viral*
  • Micromanipulation / methods*
  • Microscopy, Atomic Force
  • Nucleic Acid Denaturation
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Rotation
  • Thermodynamics

Substances

  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • DNA, Viral