Berlin 2008 – scientific programme

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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 9: POSTERS Single Molecules, Biopolymers, Membranes

CPP 9.7: Poster

Monday, February 25, 2008, 16:45–19:00, Poster A

Kinetics of TmHU binding to DNA as observed by optical tweezers — •Mathias Salomo, Carolin Wagner, Ulrich Keyser, and Friedrich Kremer — Linnéstraße 5, 04103 Leipzig

The kinetics of binding for the histone-like protein TmHU (from Thermotoga maritima) to DNA is analyzed on a single molecule level by use of optical tweezers. For the reaction rate a pronounced concentration-dependence is found with an "all or nothing-limit" which suggests the cooperative nature of the binding-reaction. By analyzing the statistics of mechanically induced dissociation- events of TmHU from DNA multiple reaction sites are observed to become more likely with increasing TmHU concentration. This is interpreted as a hint for a secondary organizational level of the TmHU/DNA complex. The reaction rate of TmHU binding to DNA is remarkably higher than that of the HU protein from Escherichia coli which will be discussed.