Unexpected stop-and-go when DNA is pulled through a network

ORAL

Abstract

We perform single-molecule imaging of lambda-DNA chains when DC electric fields drive them through agarose networks in which they are heavily entangled. Velocity is decidedly unsteady. Exhaustive statistics reveal how motion switches between ``mobile'' and ``pause'' states, the latter differing from well-known ``hooking.'' As these observations appear to be inconsistent with the prevailing theories of DNA electrophoresis, we are also engaged in measurements that discriminate between motion of the chain ends and the chain centers, by direct two-color fluorescence imaging.

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Authors

  • Juan Guan

    University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

  • Bo Wang

    University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

  • Sung Chul Bae

    University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

  • Steve Granick

    University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana--Champaign, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign