Nucleic Acids and Chromatin under Forces and Torques (A11*)

• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: from 2018 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 111166240

DNA’s physical properties and packing in nucleosomes and higher order chromatin play critical roles in the storage, read out, and regulation of the genetic information. We propose to use massively parallel magnetic tweezers that enable to apply and directly measure physiologically relevant forces and torques at the single molecule level to dissect the mechanical properties and dynamics of nucleic acids and chromatin components. Building on this knowledge, we will determine how chromatin readers and remodelers alter the conformational landscape of nucleosomes and quantitatively test chromatin-remodeling mechanisms.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 863: Forces in Biomolecular Systems
• Major Instrumentation: Magnetic tweezers
• Instrumentation Group: 1190 Sonstige Geräte für präparative Chemie (außer 110-117)
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität München (TUM)
• Project Head: Professor Dr. Jan Lipfert