We stretched a DNA molecule using atomic force microscope and quantified the mechanical properties associated with B and S forms of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), molten DNA, and single-stranded DNA (ssDNA). We also fit overdamped diffusion models to the AFM time series and used these models to extract additional kinetic information about the system. Our analysis provides additional evidence supp...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether a polymorphism within the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) gene is associated with susceptibility to, or severity of, rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Consecutive patients with recent onset RA were enrolled in a prospective trial. DNA was collected, disease activity was measured at presentation, and radiographic progression at three years was assessed....

The catalytic subunit of the DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PKcs) is essential for the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks (DSBs) in non- homologous end joining (NHEJ) and during V(D)J recombination. DNA-PKcs binds single- and double-stranded DNA in vitro, and in vivo the Ku heterodimer probably helps recruit it to DSBs with high affinity. Once loaded onto DNA, DNA-PKcs acts as a scaffold f...

Archaeal RadAs are close homologues of eukaryal Rad51s ( approximately 40% sequence identity). These recombinases promote ATP hydrolysis and a hallmark strand-exchange reaction between homologous single-stranded and double-stranded DNA substrates. Pairing of the 3'-overhangs located at the damaged DNA with a homologous double-stranded DNA enables the re-synthesis of the damaged region using the...

Conformational diseases are caused by the aggregation of misfolded proteins. The risk for such pathologies develops years before clinical symptoms appear, and is higher in people with alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) polymorphisms. Thousands deficiency (AATD) underdiagnosed. Enemy-aggregating proteins may reside these underdiagnosed AATD patients many a pathology fully develops. In this perspective re...

The teicoplanin-associated locus regulator (TcaR) regulates gene expression of proteins on the intercellular adhesion (ica) locus involved in staphylococci poly-N-acetylglucosamine biosynthesis. The absence of TcaR increases poly-N-acetylglucosamine production and promotes biofilm formation. Until recently, the mechanism of multiple antibiotic resistance regulator family protein members, such a...

The influence of conformational changes on the molecular electrostatic potential and the steric accessibility of the double stranded polynucleotide poly (dA-dT). poly (dA-dT) are investigated by calculating these properties for three different conformations : B-DNA, D-DNA and alternating-B DNA.