Using single-molecule techniques to study DNA mechanics and DNA-protein interactions

Abstract

This work focuses on two single-molecule techniques: Magnetic Tweezers and Tethered Particle Motion (TPM). Magnetic Tweezers were used to study the DNA overstretching transition from the B-form to the S-form at 65 pN. The operations of the magnetic tweezers were studied and the resolution of its measurements discussed. G-Quadruplex DNA constructs were designed and magnetic tweezers experiments were done on one of them. The preliminary data shows no detectable signal from G-Quadruplex. TPM was developed and fundamental experiments were done to demonstrate its capabilities. Its future improvements and applications were proposed and discussed.