Effect of DNA Topology on SMC Protein-Mediated Loop Extrusion (R10)

• Subject Area: Experimental and Theoretical Physics of Polymers
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 464588647

Cellular DNA is folded into large loops by an ATP-driven process—named loop extrusion—in which the ring-shaped SMC motor protein complexes actively pull DNA into loops. Up to now, how loop extrusion associates with topological strains that are abundant in cells remains unknown. In our proposal we want to study the interplay between DNA topology and extrusion of loops by single-molecule experiments and numerical simulations. In the long-term, we plan to extend this study to understand how the loop-extrusion process interacts with transcriptional condensates and how such interactions may modulate the overall DNA topology and its persistence.

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1551: Polymer Concepts in Cellular Function
• Applicant Institution: Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
• Project Heads: Eugene Kim, Ph.D.; Dr. Peter Virnau