DNA articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Binding and unbinding of transcription regulators at operator sites regulates gene expression. By single-molecule tracking of metal-sensing regulators, here the authors show that the unbinding kinetics depends on regulator concentration and chromosome condensation, and varies with their metal-binding states.

    • Tai-Yen Chen
    • , Ace George Santiago
    •  & Peng Chen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    DNA intercalators, a type of fluorescent probes widely used to visualize DNA, can perturb DNA structure and stability. Here, the authors show how DNA-binding affinity can be tuned using DNA tension, ionic strength and dye species, and how this can be used to minimize DNA structural perturbations.

    • Andreas S. Biebricher
    • , Iddo Heller
    •  & Gijs J. L. Wuite

  • Article
    | Open Access

    TALEs are programmable DNA-binding proteins with practical use in genome engineering and synthetic biology. Here the authors use single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to establish that TALE proteins function using two distinct DNA-interaction modes during sequence-specific target search.

    • Luke Cuculis
    • , Zhanar Abil
    •  & Charles M. Schroeder

  • Article |

    Nanopore sensors provide a useful way of analysing single molecules, such as DNA. Here, the authors present a nanopore-based single-molecule reactor, into which DNA can be fed and removed, and which also acts as an entropic cage allowing for DNA chemical modifications.

    • Xu Liu
    • , Mirna Mihovilovic Skanata
    •  & Derek Stein

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The VK1 sequence of the PLEKHG3 gene is expressed in the brain and is linked to the development of autism. Here, the authors present a structural analysis of this gene and found that due to its alternating GGG and GCG repeats, it folds into a tetrahelical structure distinct from G-quadruplexes.

    • Vojč Kocman
    •  & Janez Plavec

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Single-molecule force spectroscopy provides useful quantitative information about the properties of macromolecules. Otto and colleagues non-invasively inspect the tension dynamics in a taut strand of DNA, thereby extending the use of single-molecule force spectroscopy to the study of macromolecular dynamics.

    • Oliver Otto
    • , Sebastian Sturm
    •  & Klaus Kroy

  • Article |

    Guanine-rich DNA can form four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes, which are thought to influence DNA replication, transcription and repair; their stability and prevalence in the genome is in need of further elucidation. Here the authors employ an antibody-based approach to sensitively map G-quadruplexes in the genome.

    • Enid Yi Ni Lam
    • , Dario Beraldi
    •  & Shankar Balasubramanian

  • Article |

    DNA nanotubes could be used to transport nano-cargo and incorporated into nano-devices. In this study, rolling circle amplification is used to generate DNA subunits, and their thermodynamic growth results in the formation of nanotubes with a controlled diameter.

    • Ofer I. Wilner
    • , Ron Orbach
    •  & Itamar Willner

  • Article |

    Synthetic nanomotors convert chemical energy into motion. Here, they have been implemented in a motion-based assay that allows specific DNA and ribosomal RNA detection. The technique is fast, simple and sensitive, and the concentration-dependant distance signals of the magnetically aligned nanomotors are detected by optical microscopy.

    • Jie Wu
    • , Shankar Balasubramanian
    •  & Joseph Wang

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