Helicase on DNA: a phase coexistence based mechanism

Bhattacharjee, Somendra M. ; Seno, Flavio (2003) Helicase on DNA: a phase coexistence based mechanism Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 36 (13). L181-L187. ISSN 0305-4470

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Official URL: http://iopscience.iop.org/0305-4470/36/13/102/

Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0305-4470/36/13/102

Abstract

We propose a phase coexistence based mechanism for activity of helicases, ubiquitous enzymes that unwind double stranded DNA. The helicase-DNA complex constitutes a fixed-stretch ensemble that entails the coexistence of domains of zipped and unzipped phases of DNA, separated by a domain wall. The motor action of the helicase leads to a change in the position of the fixed constraint thereby shifting the domain wall on dsDNA. We associate this off-equilibrium domain wall motion with the unzipping activity of the helicase. We show that this proposal gives a clear and consistent explanation of the main observed features of helicases.

Item Type:Article
Source:Copyright of this article belongs to Institute of Physics.
ID Code:2978
Deposited On:09 Oct 2010 10:25
Last Modified:16 May 2016 13:52

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