Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 11: Posters: Single-Molecule Biophysics

BP 11.3: Poster

Monday, March 14, 2011, 17:15–20:00, P3

Nano-Mechanics of Homologous Recombination — •Marcel Ander and Erik Schäffer — Biotec TU Dresden, Tatzberg 47-51, Dresden

Homologous recombination is the key biological process for exchanging DNA segments between two DNA molecules. It serves to repair DNA double strand breaks, re-launch stalled replication forks, and maintains genetic diversity by mediating horizontal gene transfer mechanisms such as conjugation and meiotic recombination. In all of these processes, a segment of DNA is stably integrated into the recipient DNA. Utilizing optical tweezers we analyzed the DNA single-strand annealing mechanism of homologous recombination studying the phage lambda protein Redβ. Redβ is the key actor in a technique termed recombineering ensuring efficiency of the recombination process. We discovered that Redβ can actually block annealing of complementary DNA strands, and is active towards the 3’ end of a single-stranded DNA. If sufficient complementarity is given, Redβ holds complementary DNA strands together. This sheds light onto the mechanism of DNA single-strand annealing and highlights force as a crucial item in molecular genetics.