Theoretical models for single-molecule DNA and RNA experiments: From elasticity to unzipping

Simona Cocco; John F. Marko; Rémi Monasson

doi:10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01345-2

Theoretical models for single-molecule DNA and RNA experiments: From elasticity to unzipping

Simona Cocco^*, John F. Marko, Rémi Monasson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Molecular Biosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

We review statistical-mechanical theories of single-molecule micromanipulation experiments on nucleic acids. Firstly, models for describing polymer elasticity are introduced. We then review how these models are used to interpret single-molecule force-extension experiments on single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. Depending on the force and the molecules used, both smooth elastic behavior and abrupt structural transitions are observed. Thirdly, we show how combining the elasticity of two single nucleic acid strands with a description of the base-pairing interactions between them explains much of the phenomenology and kinetics of RNA and DNA 'unzipping' experiments.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	569-584
Number of pages	16
Journal	Comptes Rendus Physique
Volume	3
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01345-2
State	Published - Jun 2002

Funding

Acknowledgements. We thank A. Sarkar, V. Croquette and D. Bensimon for their helpful comments on this manuscript. This work was in part supported by the NSF (USA; J.M. and S.C.: DMR-9734178, R.M.: DMR-9808595), the Research Corporation (J.M.), the A. della Riccia Foundation (S.C.), and by the Focused Giving Program of Johnson and Johnson (J.M.).

Keywords

DNA
Micromanipulation
Polymer elasticity
RNAs

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Physics and Astronomy

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10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01345-2

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title = "Theoretical models for single-molecule DNA and RNA experiments: From elasticity to unzipping",

abstract = "We review statistical-mechanical theories of single-molecule micromanipulation experiments on nucleic acids. Firstly, models for describing polymer elasticity are introduced. We then review how these models are used to interpret single-molecule force-extension experiments on single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. Depending on the force and the molecules used, both smooth elastic behavior and abrupt structural transitions are observed. Thirdly, we show how combining the elasticity of two single nucleic acid strands with a description of the base-pairing interactions between them explains much of the phenomenology and kinetics of RNA and DNA 'unzipping' experiments.",

keywords = "DNA, Micromanipulation, Polymer elasticity, RNAs",

author = "Simona Cocco and Marko, {John F.} and R{\'e}mi Monasson",

note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgements. We thank A. Sarkar, V. Croquette and D. Bensimon for their helpful comments on this manuscript. This work was in part supported by the NSF (USA; J.M. and S.C.: DMR-9734178, R.M.: DMR-9808595), the Research Corporation (J.M.), the A. della Riccia Foundation (S.C.), and by the Focused Giving Program of Johnson and Johnson (J.M.).",

year = "2002",

month = jun,

doi = "10.1016/S1631-0705(02)01345-2",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "3",

pages = "569--584",

journal = "Comptes Rendus Physique",

issn = "1631-0705",

publisher = "Academie des sciences",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Theoretical models for single-molecule DNA and RNA experiments

T2 - From elasticity to unzipping

AU - Cocco, Simona

AU - Marko, John F.

AU - Monasson, Rémi

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgements. We thank A. Sarkar, V. Croquette and D. Bensimon for their helpful comments on this manuscript. This work was in part supported by the NSF (USA; J.M. and S.C.: DMR-9734178, R.M.: DMR-9808595), the Research Corporation (J.M.), the A. della Riccia Foundation (S.C.), and by the Focused Giving Program of Johnson and Johnson (J.M.).

PY - 2002/6

Y1 - 2002/6

N2 - We review statistical-mechanical theories of single-molecule micromanipulation experiments on nucleic acids. Firstly, models for describing polymer elasticity are introduced. We then review how these models are used to interpret single-molecule force-extension experiments on single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. Depending on the force and the molecules used, both smooth elastic behavior and abrupt structural transitions are observed. Thirdly, we show how combining the elasticity of two single nucleic acid strands with a description of the base-pairing interactions between them explains much of the phenomenology and kinetics of RNA and DNA 'unzipping' experiments.

AB - We review statistical-mechanical theories of single-molecule micromanipulation experiments on nucleic acids. Firstly, models for describing polymer elasticity are introduced. We then review how these models are used to interpret single-molecule force-extension experiments on single-stranded and double-stranded DNA. Depending on the force and the molecules used, both smooth elastic behavior and abrupt structural transitions are observed. Thirdly, we show how combining the elasticity of two single nucleic acid strands with a description of the base-pairing interactions between them explains much of the phenomenology and kinetics of RNA and DNA 'unzipping' experiments.

KW - DNA

KW - Micromanipulation

KW - Polymer elasticity

KW - RNAs

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JO - Comptes Rendus Physique

JF - Comptes Rendus Physique

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ER -

Theoretical models for single-molecule DNA and RNA experiments: From elasticity to unzipping

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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