Physics and Astronomy Blog

Research provides new insights into role of mechanical forces in gene expression

Clemson University researchers, led by Laura Finzi, have uncovered the role of mechanical forces in gene transcription, specifically in RNA polymerase (RNAP) activity during termination. While the traditional view holds that RNAP dissociates from DNA after releasing mRNA, the team demonstrated that force can cause RNAP to slide forward or backward on the DNA template. […]