Paul Grayson
Department of Physics
California Institute of Technology
Pasadena, CA

Tuesday, June 14, 2005
1:00 pm (CT)
3169 Beckman Institute

Abstract

The DNA inside bacteriophage capsids is packed tightly enough to produce forces as high as 60 pN through bending elasticity and self-interactions. The high forces are believed to be important for the DNA ejection process, though the extent of their importance is not yet clear. Here we show theoretically and experimentally how the quantity of packaged DNA directly relates to the force driving ejection and in turn to the rate at which DNA leaves the capsid.