ISSN:
0006-3525
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The ends of rather short double-helical DNA segments (approximately two persistence lengths) can be enzymatically joined to form closed circles. Such covalent closure into circles is a measure of the likelihood of the two ends of the DNA coming into close contact. There is a length of DNA for which loop formation is most likely to occur. We have determined the chain-length dependence of loop formation for stiff chains using computer-generated chains of cylinders. The distribution from which the values for the angles between cylinders were chosen relates the chain parameters to a given chain persistence. Our results are compared with those of other theories, including a statistical wormlike chain model, and with the experimental measurements for ring closure of DNA restriction fragments.
Additional Material:
2 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bip.360230313