Berlin 2015 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 26: Posters: Statistical Physics of Biological Systems
BP 26.4: Poster
Tuesday, March 17, 2015, 14:00–16:00, Poster A
How molecular knots can pass through each other — •Jonathan Siebert1, Benjamin Trefz1,2, and Peter Virnau1 — 1Department of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, D-55128 Mainz, Germany — 2Graduate School Materials Science in Mainz, D-55128 Mainz, Germany
In our work a method is proposed that allows two molecular knots on a DNA strand to pass through each other. This results in interchanging their positions along the strand. By expanding its size, one of the knots allows the other to diffuse along its contour.
As explained in PNAS, 111(22), 7948-7951 the free energy barrier for this particular mechanism only amounts to a few kBT. Therefore, it is not only of aesthetic interest, but may also play a role in technological applications, e.g. nanopore sequencing.