Berlin 2008 – scientific programme

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SYMP: Symposium Computational Soft matter physics

SYMP 2: Computational soft matter physics

SYMP 2.1: Invited Talk

Thursday, February 28, 2008, 14:00–14:30, H 0105

DNA mechanics and dynamics — •Richard Lavery — Institut de Biologie et Chimie des Protéines, CNRS UMR 5086 / Université de Lyon, France

The DNA double helix is easily deformable, both on a local level, in response to changes in base sequence or to interactions with other species, and on a global level, in response to external constraints such as supercoiling or stretching. We are using molecular mechanics and dynamics to study these properties of DNA and to relate them to the biological behavior of this vital biomacromolecule. Our studies have enabled us both to examine the extreme deformations of the double helix which can be induced during single molecule experiments and the more subtle deformations which are vital in protein-DNA recognition processes. We are also investigating how different base sequences influence DNA dynamics and can impact on processes such as energy transfer.

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T. Lionnet et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 178102 (2006).

F. Lankas et al., Structure 14, 1527 (2006).