Research

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Title :

DNA: Topology and Dynamics

Area of research :

Life Sciences & Biotechnology

Principal Investigator :

Dr. Garima Mishra, Ashoka University, Haryana

Timeline Start Year :

2022

Timeline End Year :

2024

Contact info :

Equipments :

Details

Executive Summary :

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is found in all living organisms with different topology. Most prokaryotes (bacteria) contain circular DNA molecule with no loose ends, whereas the chromosomal DNA in eukaryotes (human) are linear in nature. Melting of linear DNA has been extensively investigated experimentally as well as theoretically and it has been well established that DNA melting starts from its ends (high entropy). However, circular DNA has no end, So, how do circular DNAs melt? The underlying mechanism for melting of circular DNA is elusive so far. Another fascinating topological feature is extremely long DNA molecule confined in tiny cell. The DNA, therefore, must be tightly packed inside the cell and may get self-entangled leading to knot formation. A very recent in-vitro experiment has shown that with elongational field it is possible to unknot the DNA by driving these knots towards the chain end. However, what still remains unclear is, how these knots are removed from the DNA in-vivo. A plausible route that motor proteins can utilize to untie the knot is by exerting a periodic force on DNA. The aim of this project is to develop model which includes different topological aspects of DNA in its description and to study their consequences on DNA dynamics. Our results are anticipated to provide better physical understanding of different DNA topologies inside the cell and may also provide the directives for future experiments.

Total Budget (INR):

30,83,872

Organizations involved