Single molecule fluorescence analysis of branch migration of holliday junctions: effect of DNA sequence.

ABSTRACT: The Holliday junction is a central intermediate in various genetic processes including homologous, site-specific recombination and DNA replication. Recent single molecule FRET experiments led to the model for branch migration as a stepwise stochastic process in which the branch migration hop is terminated by the folding of the junction. In this article, we studied the effect of the sequence on Holliday junction dynamics and branch migration process. We show that a GC pair placed at the border of the homologous region almost prevents the migration into this position. At the same time, insertion of a GC pair into the middle of the AT tract does not show this effect, however when the junction folds at this position, it resides at this position much longer time in comparison to the folding at

SUBMITTER: Karymov MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2479582 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature