Next: Introduction
,
,
ilyakhov@ncifcrf.gov
,
stewartl@alkami.com
-
[cor]Corresponding author.
toms@alum.mit.edu
[url]https://alum.mit.edu/www/toms/toms/
Abstract:
The DNA binding protein Fis
frequently uses pairs of sites 7 or 11 base pairs apart.
Two overlapping Fis
sites separated by 11 base pairs are found in the
E. coli
origin of
chromosomal replication.
Only one of these sites is bound by Fis at a time,
so the structure is a molecular flip-flop
that could
direct alternative firing of replication complexes in opposite directions.
Alternatively, the flip-flop could represent
part of an on-off switch for replication.
Because they can be used to create precise switched states,
molecular flip-flops could be used as the basis of a
novel molecular computer.
version = 2.15 of fff.tex 2003 October 16
running title: Fis Flip-Flops
Tom Schneider
2003-10-16