Conserved linear dynamics of single-molecule Brownian motion

Macromolecular diffusion in homogeneous fluid at length scales greater than the size of the molecule is regarded as a random process. The mean-squared displacement (MSD) of molecules in this regime increases linearly with time. Here we show that non-random motion of DNA molecules in this regime that...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNature communications Vol. 8; no. 1; p. 15675
Main Authors Serag, Maged F., Habuchi, Satoshi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London Nature Publishing Group UK 06.06.2017
Nature Publishing Group
Nature Portfolio
Subjects
2-Propanol - chemistry
631/57/2265
639/766/94
Brownian motion
Carbocyanines - chemistry
Diffusion
DNA - chemistry
DNA, Superhelical - chemistry
Fourier Analysis
Humanities and Social Sciences
Macromolecular Substances
Models, Statistical
Motion
multidisciplinary
Nanotechnology - methods
Polymers - chemistry
Probability
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
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Summary:Macromolecular diffusion in homogeneous fluid at length scales greater than the size of the molecule is regarded as a random process. The mean-squared displacement (MSD) of molecules in this regime increases linearly with time. Here we show that non-random motion of DNA molecules in this regime that is undetectable by the MSD analysis can be quantified by characterizing the molecular motion relative to a latticed frame of reference. Our lattice occupancy analysis reveals unexpected sub-modes of motion of DNA that deviate from expected random motion in the linear, diffusive regime. We demonstrate that a subtle interplay between these sub-modes causes the overall diffusive motion of DNA to appear to conform to the linear regime. Our results show that apparently random motion of macromolecules could be governed by non-random dynamics that are detectable only by their relative motion. Our analytical approach should advance broad understanding of diffusion processes of fundamental relevance. The general consensus is that random walking, such as Brownian motion, follows a linear dependence of diffusion motions with time. Here, the authors show that random motion of macromolecules in an isotropic fluid could be governed by non-random dynamics that are only detectable in their relative motions.
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ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/ncomms15675