Stochastic orchestration of proteins during DNA mismatch repair

Jong-Bong Lee^1*

¹Physics, POSTECH, Pohang, Korea

* Presenter:Jong-Bong Lee, email:jblee@postech.ac.kr

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) corrects DNA base-pairing errors that can occur during DNA replication and recombination. MMR catalyzes strand-specific DNA degradation and resynthesis by dynamic molecular coordination of sequential downstream pathways. Since the temporal and mechanistic order of molecular events is essential to ensuring interactions in MMR over long distances on DNA, real-time observation of individual biomolecules and their complex reactions enables us to elucidate the salient features of the molecular mechanism in MMR. Using the single-molecule fluorescence imaging method, we visualized that cascading sliding clamps of MMR on DNA initiate strand excision through thermal fluctuation-driven motions. Furthermore, we have successfully explored that the stochastic coordination of MMR components regulates MMR. I will present the development and application of single-molecule techniques that have unveiled the previously unknown mechanism of MMR.

Keywords: Single-molecule biophysics, DNA mismatch repair, Single-molecule fluorescence, Sliding clamp