Sequence-dependent DNA condensation as a driving force of DNA phase separation.

ABSTRACT: The physical properties of DNA have been suggested to play a central role in spatio-temporal organization of eukaryotic chromosomes. Experimental correlations have been established between the local nucleotide content of DNA and the frequency of inter- and intra-chromosomal contacts but the underlying physical mechanism remains unknown. Here, we combine fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements, precipitation assays, and molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the effect of DNA nucleotide content, sequence, and methylation on inter-DNA association and its correlation with DNA looping. First, we show that the strength of DNA condensation mediated by poly-lysine peptides as a reduced model of histone tails depends on the DNA's global nucleotide content but also on the

SUBMITTER: Kang H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6182145 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature