Fluidification of entanglements by a DNA bending protein
Abstract
In spite of the nanoscale and single-molecule insights into how nucleoid associated proteins (NAPs) interact with DNA, their role in modulating the mesoscale viscoelasticity of the entangled genome in vivo has been overlooked so far. By combining microrheology and molecular dynamics simulation we find that the important NAP called Integration Host Factor (IHF) lowers the viscosity of entangled λDNA 20-fold at physiological concentrations and stoichiometries. We argue that IHF may act as a "genomic fluidiser", reducing the effective viscosity of the nucleoid 200-fold. Our results suggest a previously unappreciated key role of IHF in regulating DNA dynamics and re-organisation in vivo
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