DNA and RNA, the two main types of nucleic acid and the building blocks of life, are susceptible to environmental stimuli, which can cause them to deform, bend or twist. These deformations can significantly affect gene regulation and protein functions, but they are extremely difficult to measure using traditional techniques.
Recently, a research team co-led by a physicist from City University of Hong Kong accurately measured the change in a nucleic acid induced by salt,, help reveal the underlying universal deformation mechanisms of DNA and RNA.
The success of the research lies in an accurate measuring tool, called magnetic tweezers . This is a powerful experimental technique used in biophysics and molecular biology to study the mechanical properties of biological molecules, such as DNA, RNA and proteins. In a magnetic tweezers experiment, a tiny magnetic bead is attached to a molecule of interest, and a magnetic field is applied to manipulate the position of the bead.
In the experiments, the team used magnetic tweezers to precisely measure DNA and RNA twist changes induced by salt, temperature change, and stretching. By analyzing data from other studies on protein binding, the team found that the DNA and RNA follow the same common pathways when deformation is induced by protein binding, suggesting that the two pathways are utilized to reduce the DNA and RNA deformation energy cost to facilitate protein binding.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Researchers extract ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick, revealing a time capsule of plant lifeFor the first time, a group of researchers have successfully extracted ancient DNA from a 2,900-year-old clay brick. The analysis provides a fascinating insight into the diversity of plant species cultivated at that time and place, and could open the way to similar studies on clay material from other sites and time periods.
Read more »
Researchers sound alarm about dangers of AI scamsEarlier this year, people across the country were shocked by what happened to Jennifer DeStefano, a mother in Arizona, on the afternoon of Jan. 20 when she...
Read more »
Las Vegas man arrested after DNA evidence connects him to Denton sexual assaults from the 90sDNA evidence connected Marcus Johnson to two cold cases from 1993 and 1997.
Read more »
Climate change doubled chance of weather conditions that led to record Quebec fires, researchers sayA new analysis finds that climate change more than doubled the chances of the hot, dry weather that helped fuel the unprecedented wildfire season in eastern Canada
Read more »
Climate change doubled chance of weather conditions that led to record Quebec fires, researchers sayA new analysis finds that climate change more than doubled the chances of the hot, dry weather that helped fuel the unprecedented wildfire season in eastern Canada.
Read more »
Researchers testing new bionic kidney for kidney disease patientsThe American Kidney Fund says right now 1 in 7 American adults have kidney disease — and that number is growing.
Read more »