Bending
DNA is a relatively rigid polymer, typically modelled as a worm-like chain. It has three significant degrees of freedom; bending, twisting and compression, each of which cause particular limitations on what is possible with DNA within a cell. Twisting/torsional stiffness is important for the circularisation of DNA and the orientation of DNA bound proteins relative to each other and bending/axial stiffness is important for DNA wrapping and circularisation and protein interactions. Compression/extension is relatively unimportant in the absence of high tension.
Read more about this topic: Nucleic Acid Double Helix
Famous quotes containing the word bending:
“No ray is dimmed, no atom worn,
My oldest force is good as new,
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Gives back the bending heavens in dew.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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