Condensed DNA: Condensing the concepts

详细信息    查看全文

• 作者：Vladimir B. Teif^a ; ^b ; ^{Vladimir.Teif@bioquant.uni-heidelberg.de} ; Klemen Bohinc^c ; ^d ; ^{Klemen.Bohinc@fe.uni-lj.si}
• 关键词：DNA condensation ; Ligand binding ; Counterion correlations ; Macromolecular crowding ; Chromatin ; Gene regulation
• 刊名：Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology
• 出版年：2011
• 出版时间：May 2011
• 年：2011
• 卷：105
• 期：3
• 页码：208-222
• 全文大小：1077 K

文摘

DNA is stored in vivo in a highly compact, so-called condensed phase, where gene regulatory processes are governed by the intricate interplay between different states of DNA compaction. These systems often have surprising properties, which one would not predict from classical concepts of dilute solutions. The mechanistic details of DNA packing are essential for its functioning, as revealed by the recent developments coming from biochemistry, electrostatics, statistical mechanics, and molecular and cell biology. Different aspects of condensed DNA behavior are linked to each other, but the links are often hidden in the bulk of experimental and theoretical details. Here we try to condense some of these concepts and provide interconnections between the different fields. After a brief description of main experimental features of DNA condensation inside viruses, bacteria, eukaryotes and the test tube, main theoretical approaches for the description of these systems are presented. We end up with an extended discussion of the role of DNA condensation in the context of gene regulation and mention potential applications of DNA condensation in gene therapy and biotechnology.