Shield strike shatter in DNA topology and nuclease interactions.
High-speed atomic force microscopy reveals that DNase I interacts with strained DNA regions in a topology-sensitive manner, uncovering a multistep degradation process called STORM.
- Why it matters: Understanding the precise mechanisms of DNA degradation by nucleases is crucial for insights into genome maintenance, immune defense, and disease, yet these processes are not well characterized at the single-molecule level.
- What they did: Using HS-AFM, the study visualized real-time DNA digestion, identifying a multistep pathway involving scanning, engagement, rupture, and disassembly, and examined how DNA condensation by protamine inhibits nuclease activity.
- The result: Findings demonstrate how DNA structure influences nuclease accessibility and stability, informing strategies for protecting DNA in therapeutic applications and advancing knowledge of chromatin and immune responses.