Camerini-Otero R D, Felsenfeld G
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1978 Apr;75(4):1708-12. doi: 10.1073/pnas.75.4.1708.
Closed circular DNA molecules in aqueous solution take the form of interwound superhelices over a wide range of superhelix densities. We describe a very simple model of such a superhelix in which twisting and bending forces are in balance, subject both to topological constraints and to a limitation on the distance of closet approach of the interwound duplexes of the superhelix. The model is consistent with some of the observed physical properties of closed circular DNA, and suggests that there may be severe limits to the range of allowable geometries for the superhelix structure of minimum energy.
水溶液中的闭环DNA分子在很宽的超螺旋密度范围内呈相互缠绕的超螺旋形式。我们描述了这样一种超螺旋的非常简单的模型,其中扭转力和弯曲力处于平衡状态,既受到拓扑约束,又受到超螺旋相互缠绕双链最接近距离的限制。该模型与闭环DNA的一些观察到的物理性质一致,并表明对于最低能量的超螺旋结构,其允许的几何形状范围可能存在严格限制。