Evidence for non-equilibrium dynamics in viral DNA packaging from
optical tweezers measurements

Zachary T. Berndsen; Nicholas Keller; Douglas E. Smith

doi:10.1117/12.2027187

12 September 2013 Evidence for non-equilibrium dynamics in viral DNA packaging from optical tweezers measurements

Zachary T. Berndsen, Nicholas Keller, Douglas E. Smith

Proceedings Volume 8810, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation X; 881033 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2027187
Event: SPIE NanoScience + Engineering, 2013, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In many viruses molecular motors generate large forces to package DNA to high densities. The dynamics and energetics of this process is a subject of wide debate and is of interest as a model for studying confined polymer physics in general. Here we present preliminary results showing that DNA in bacteriophage phi29 undergoes nonequilibrium conformational dynamics during packaging with a relaxation time >60,000x longer than for free DNA and >3000x longer than reported for DNA confined in nanochannels. Nonequilibrium dynamics significantly increases the load on the motor, causes heterogeneity in the rates of packaging, and causes frequent pausing in motor translocation.

Citation Download Citation

Zachary T. Berndsen, Nicholas Keller, and Douglas E. Smith "Evidence for non-equilibrium dynamics in viral DNA packaging from optical tweezers measurements", Proc. SPIE 8810, Optical Trapping and Optical Micromanipulation X, 881033 (12 September 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2027187

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