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### September 2007

2007-2008 Program

### Mathematics of Molecular and Cellular Biology

See http://www.ima.umn.edu/2007-2008 for a full description of the 2007-2008 program on Mathematics of Molecular and Cellular Biology.

News and Notes

IMA 2007-2008 Thematic year on Mathematics of molecular and cellular biology begins

The 2007-2008 IMA thematic program is "Mathematics of Molecular and Cellular Biology". This program provides a setting for mathematicians and scientists to explore recent and nascent breakthroughs in molecular and cellular biology. One of the goals of the program is to advance the development of a quantitative body of theory for biology created by people with strong backgrounds in both biology and in the mathematical sciences, with the same sort of expected impact on biology as it math had on the sciences of physics, chemistry and engineering in the 20th century. In keeping with its mission of fostering interdisciplinary research, the IMA is offering several intensive workshops as part of this program. In the Fall quarter we will begin with nucleic acid (DNA and RNA) organization, structure, function, and the interaction between DNA and RNA in the production of proteins and the orchestration of cellular metabolism. In the Winter quarter we willl devote our attention to the study of protein structure and function. The new science of proteomics aims to understand how proteins are produced and how they function and malfunction. We need to understand how protein production is controlled, and the cascade of interaction among families of proteins. The spring quarter will focus on the mathematics of cellular physiology, a highly complex biological system, with structures from molecular to macroscopic scale, and processes with critical time scales from nanoseconds to hours. Modeling cellular behavior poses significant challenges to the mathematical sciences. The speakers and the audience at these workshops will be a mix of mathematicians, biologists,physicists and engineers including young people interested in work at the math/bio interface. Limited financial support is available for the workshops. Detailed information about this program can be found at http://www.ima.umn.edu/2007-2008/.

A new deputy director for the IMA

The Institute for Mathematics and its Applications says a special thank you and good-bye to Dr. Arnd Scheel for a wonderful three years of service as the deputy director of IMA. Arnd will be on sabbatical for the academic year 2007-2008 before returning to the school of mathematics at the university of Minnesota where he is a professor of mathematics. It has been a privilege and pleasure to have Arnd being part of the IMA. We will miss you Arnd! Dr. John Baxter who is a long time professor of mathematics in the school of mathematics at the university of Minnesota, succeeds Arnd Scheel. Dr. Baxter's research interests are mostly in the area of Probability Theory and Ergodic Theory. Among many services, John has served as the associate head of the school of mathematics. Welcome aboard John!

IMA Public Lecture Series

Math Matters lectures feature distinguished mathematicians and scientists who are also superb expositors able to illuminate the role mathematics is playing in understanding our world and shaping our lives. The lectures are aimed at a broad audience.

IMA Events

### Mathematics of Nucleic Acids

#### September 15, 2007

Organizers: David Swigon (University of Pittsburgh)

### Mathematics of DNA Structure, Function, and Interactions

#### September 16-21, 2007

Organizers: Craig Benham (University of California), Steve Harvey (Georgia Institute of Technology), Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University), De Witt L. Sumners (Florida State University), David Swigon (University of Pittsburgh)
Schedule

## Monday, September 3

 All Day Labor Day. The IMA is closed.

## Wednesday, September 5

 10:30a-11:00a Continental breakfast and orientation for IMA visitors and postdocs Lind Hall 400 11:00a-11:45a Orientation meeting for IMA postdocs Lind Hall 409

## Thursday, September 6

 11:00a-12:00p IMA Postdoc show-and-tell EE/CS 3-180 11:00-11:15 Hannah Callender (Vanderbilt University) 11:15-11:30 Peter Hinow (Vanderbilt University) 11:45-12:00 Laura Lurati (University of Minnesota) 11:30-11:45 Deena Schmidt (University of Minnesota) 12:15p-1:30p Postdoc show-and-tell lunch and poster session Lind Hall 400 1:30p-2:45p IMA Postdoc show-and-tell EE/CS 3-180 2:15-2:30 Yermal Sujeet Bhat (University of Minnesota) 2:30-2:45 Olivier Dubois (University of Minnesota) 1:30-1:45 Andrew Stein (University of Minnesota) 1:45-2:00 Erkan Tüzel (University of Minnesota) 2:00-2:15 Zhian Wang (University of Minnesota)

## Friday, September 7

 11:00a-12:00p (Rescheduled on Monday, 9/10) Computer orientation for postdocs and longterm visitors Lind Hall 409

## Monday, September 10

 11:00a-12:00p Computer orientation for postdocs and longterm visitors Lind Hall 409

## Wednesday, September 12

 11:15a-12:15p Mathematics of molecular and cellular biology seminar: Revisiting the salt dependence of the drug-DNA association process: A Poisson-Boltzmann analysis Marcia O. Fenley (Florida State University) Lind Hall 409 MMCB

## Friday, September 14

 3:35p-4:25p Effects of the nucleoid protein HU on the structure, flexibility, and ring-closure properties of DNA deduced from Monte-Carlo simulations Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University) EE/CS 3-180 Compbio

## Saturday, September 15

 8:15a-8:45a Coffee and registration EE/CS 3-176 T9.15.07 8:50a-9:00a Welcome Douglas N. Arnold (University of Minnesota) EE/CS 3-180 T9.15.07 9:00a-10:00a Sequence-dependent helical structure and global responses of DNA Part I. Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University) EE/CS 3-180 T9.15.07 10:00a-10:30a Break EE/CS 3-176 T9.15.07 10:30a-11:30a Part II: Implications of base sequence-dependent structural information on larger-scale genetic control Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University) EE/CS 3-180 T9.15.07 11:00a-1:30p Lunch T9.15.07 1:30p-2:30p Part I: DNA topology and geometry/DNA elasticity David Swigon (University of Pittsburgh) EE/CS 3-180 T9.15.07 2:30p-3:00p Break EE/CS 3-176 T9.15.07 3:00p-4:00p Part II: DNA statistical mechanics/DNA dynamics David Swigon (University of Pittsburgh) EE/CS 3-180 T9.15.07 4:00p-4:30p Second chances Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University) David Swigon (University of Pittsburgh) EE/CS 3-180 T9.15.07

## Sunday, September 16

 All Day Structure & Elasticity (David Swigon chair) W9.16-21.07 8:30a-9:00a Registration and coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 9:00a-9:15a Welcome to the IMA Douglas N. Arnold (University of Minnesota) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 9:15a-10:15a DNA mechanics: Deformation and recognition Richard Lavery (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 10:15a-10:45a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 10:45a-11:45a Structure and dynamics of the four-way DNA junction David M.J. Lilley (University of Dundee) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 11:45a-1:45a Lunch W9.16-21.07 1:45p-2:45p Conformational statistics of DNA Gregory S. Chirikjian (Johns Hopkins University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 2:45p-3:15p Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 3:15p-4:15p Supercoiled minicircle DNA to probe topoisomerase-DNA interactions Lynn Zechiedrich (Baylor College of Medicine) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:15p-4:45p Second Chances Discussion EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:45p-5:00p A new twist step-parameter coupled to the chirality of the global structure of DNA Irwin Tobias (Rutgers University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 5:00p-5:15p Smallest containers enclosing random equilateral polygons Eric Rawdon (University of St. Thomas) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 5:15p-5:30p On problems in DNA elasticity in which electrostatic forces, the sequence dependence of elastic properties. and the impenetrability of the DNA molecule must all be taken into account Bernard D. Coleman (Rutgers University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07

## Monday, September 17

 All Day Topology I (De Witt Sumners chair) W9.16-21.07 8:30a-9:00a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 9:00a-10:00a Local selection rules that can determine specific pathways of DNA unknotting by type II DNA topoisomerases Andrzej Stasiak (University of Lausanne) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 10:00a-10:30a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 10:30a-11:30a Breaking DNA double helix by bending stress Alexander Vologodskii (New York University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 11:30a-1:30p Lunch W9.16-21.07 1:30p-2:30p Tangle analysis of protein-DNA complexes Isabel K. Darcy (University of Iowa) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 2:30p-3:00p Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 3:00p-4:00p Closing the loop on protein-DNA interactions Stephen D. Levene (University of Texas at Dallas) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:00p-4:30p Second Chances Discussion EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:30p-4:40p Group Pictures EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:45p-6:15p Reception and Poster Session Lind Hall 400 W9.16-21.07 On the association of proteins to circular DNA: modeling the facilitated rate of association Ramzi Alsallaq (Florida State University) Mathematical methods to study the relative position of chromosomes during interphase in human cells F. Javier Arsuaga (San Francisco State University) Chicken and yeast nucleosomal DNA sequences differ at the ends: A possible relation to the linker histone binding Feng Cui (National Institutes of Health) Free energy simulation studies of sharp DNA bending using a global restraint of space-invariant internucleotides rotation axis Jeremy Curuksu (Jacobs University) Generating a tangle table for DNA protein complex modeling Melanie DeVries (University of Iowa) Modelling DNA unknotting by type II topoisomerases Xia Hua (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Mariel Vazquez (San Francisco State University) DNA solitons as an explanation for codon bias Alex Kasman (College of Charleston) A tangle analysis of a DNA-protein complex which binds four DNA segments Soojeong Kim (University of Iowa) Nucleosome and chromatin structure and dynamics studied by fluorescence techniques and computer modeling Jörg Langowski (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (Cancer Research)(DKFZ)) Macroscopic modeling of a circular rod with twist and bend in a viscous fluid Sookkyung Lim (University of Cincinnati) Tangle models for recombinase action Kyle McQuisten (University of Iowa) Polynomial invariants, knot distances and topoisomerase action Hyeyoung Moon (University of Iowa) Signature curves in classifying DNA supercoils Chehrzad Shakiban (University of Minnesota) Developing computer software for detecting fluorescent chromosome labels Lawrence Varela (San Francisco State University) Modelling diffusional transport in the interphase cell nucleus Annika Wedemeier (German Cancer Research Center) Geometric flows on biological surfaces Guowei Wei (Michigan State University) A DNA base-pair step parameter database Guohui Zheng (Rutgers University)

## Tuesday, September 18

 All Day Chromatin & Packing (Wilma Olson chair) W9.16-21.07 8:30a-9:00a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 9:00a-10:00a The genomic code for nucleosome positioning Jonathan Widom (Northwestern University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 10:00a-10:30a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 10:30a-11:30a Nucleosome dynamics probed by torsional manipulation of single chromatin fibers Ariel Prunell (Institut Jacques Monod) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 11:30a-1:30p Lunch W9.16-21.07 1:30p-2:30p Torque in stretched and twisted DNA John F. Marko (Northwestern University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 2:30p-3:00p Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 3:00p-4:00p A novel 'Kink-and-Slide' mechanism of DNA folding in chromatin. Implications for nucleosome positioning and p53-DNA binding Victor B. Zhurkin (National Cancer Institute) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:00p-4:30p Second Chances Discussion EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 6:30p-8:30p Workshop Dinner Kikugawa at Riverplace 43 Main St. SE. Minneapolis, MN 55414(612) 378-3006 W9.16-21.07

## Wednesday, September 19

 All Day Single-Molecules & Motors & Enzymes (Steve Harvey chair) W9.16-21.07 8:30a-9:00a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 9:00a-10:00a Real-time observation of bacteriophage T4 gp41 helicase reveals unwinding mechanism Vincent Croquette (École Normale Supérieure) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 10:00a-10:30a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 10:30a-11:30a Helicase unwinding of dsDNA: velocity, processivity, and collective effects Meredith Betterton (University of Colorado) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 11:30a-1:30p Lunch W9.16-21.07 1:30p-2:30p Single molecule probing of dynamic conformation, molecular interactions and dynamic localizations in-vitro, in live cells and in organisms Shimon Weiss (University of California) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 2:30p-3:00p Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 3:00p-3:30p Second Chances Discussion EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 3:30p-3:45p Macroscopic modeling of a circular rod with twist and bend in a viscous fluid Sookkyung Lim (University of Cincinnati) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 3:45p-4:00p Assessing the ability of continuum solvation models to accurately model nucleic acid electrostatics Nathan Baker (Washington University School of Medicine) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:00p-4:15p Geometric flows on biological surfaces Guowei Wei (Michigan State University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:15p-4:30p Nucleosome and chromatin structure and dynamics studied by fluorescence techniques and computer modeling Jörg Langowski (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (Cancer Research)(DKFZ)) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07

## Thursday, September 20

 All Day Transcription Regulation & Biology (Craig Benham chair) W9.16-21.07 8:30a-9:00a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 9:00a-10:00a Chromatin compaction as a topological problem Andrew Travers (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 10:00a-10:30a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 10:30a-11:30a Lysogeny maintenance: a matter of looping Laura Finzi (Emory University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 11:30a-1:30p Lunch W9.16-21.07 1:30p-2:30p Design, analysis, and modeling of protein-DNA loops Jason D. Kahn (University of Maryland) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 2:30p-3:00p Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 3:00p-4:00p Approaches to understanding the origin and management of DNA stiffness James Maher (Mayo Clinic) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:00p-4:30p Second Chances Discussion EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:30p-4:45p Mathematical methods to study the relative position of chromosomes during interphase in human cells F. Javier Arsuaga (San Francisco State University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 4:45p-5:00p Molecular seismology: An inverse problem in nanobiology Erik Boczko (Vanderbilt University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 5:00p-5:15p The effect of the nucleoid protein HU on the structure, flexibility, and ring-closure properties of DNA deduced from Monte Carlo simulation Luke Czapla (Rutgers University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 5:15p-5:30p Exploring salt-mediated electrostatics in the association of TATA binding proteins to DNA with a combined molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann approach Marcia O. Fenley (Florida State University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07

## Friday, September 21

 All Day Topology II (Dorothy Buck chair) W9.16-21.07 8:30a-9:00a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 9:00a-10:00a Difference topology: Analysis of DNA architecture in complex DNA-protein assemblies Makkuni Jayaram (University of Texas) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 10:00a-10:30a Coffee EE/CS 3-176 W9.16-21.07 10:30a-11:30a The mathematics of site-specific recombination: 1. difference topology experiments and the Mu tranpososome; 2. DNA unlinking by XerCD/FtsK Mariel Vazquez (San Francisco State University) EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07 11:30a-12:15p Second Chances + Closing Discussion EE/CS 3-180 W9.16-21.07

## Tuesday, September 25

 10:00a-11:00a De Witt L. Sumners (Florida State University) Vincent Hall 570 11:15a-12:15p Peter Hinow (Vanderbilt University) Lind Hall 409 PS

## Wednesday, September 26

 11:15a-12:15p Quantitative analysis of radiation induced chromosome aberrations F. Javier Arsuaga (San Francisco State University) Lind Hall 409 MMCB

## Friday, September 28

 11:15a-12:15p Special presentation: The Division of Mathematical Sciences at the NSF Peter D. March (Ohio State University) Lind Hall 409 1:25p-2:25p IMA/MCIM Industrial problems seminar: Goldman Sachs: Career opportunities for quantitative individuals E. Mckay Hyde (Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG) Vincent Hall 570 IPS

#### Event Legend:

CompbioComputational Biology Seminar
IPSIndustrial Problems Seminar
MMCBMathematics of Molecular and Cellular Biology Seminar
PSIMA Postdoc Seminar
T9.15.07Mathematics of Nucleic Acids
W9.16-21.07Mathematics of DNA Structure, Function, and Interactions
Abstracts
 Ramzi Alsallaq (Florida State University) On the association of proteins to circular DNA: modeling the facilitated rate of association Abstract: The facilitated diffusion-limited rate of association of proteins to there specific sites on circular DNA substrates is derived based on surface-potential model. We assume the protein performs 3D diffusive motion whether be it in the relatively small region where it is exposed to the surface force, or outside in the bulk. The obtained rate is compared to the corresponding rate of association to symmetrically linearized DNA template with reflecting ends, and the two rates are found comparable for contour lengths that are longer than 185bp . This suggests considering other mechanisms when the measured rates of association to these different topologies are found different. The accuracy of the analytical models is verified by numerical simulations. F. Javier Arsuaga (San Francisco State University) Mathematical methods to study the relative position of chromosomes during interphase in human cells Abstract: During interphase chromosomes are confined to sub-nuclear regions called chromosome territories. The position of these territories has been associated with a number of biological processes such as cell differentiation and transcription. Furthermore the relative position of chromosomes is believed to have a very important role in the formation of chromosome aberrations in cancer and other human diseases. Ionizing radiation helps approach the problem of the relative position of chromosomes. When ionizing radiation tracks (gamma rays, X-rays, high energy alpha particles, etc) cross the cell nucleus they release enough energy to disrupt the molecular structure of the DNA (directly or indirectly) and induce DNA double stranded-breaks (DSBs). When DSB free ends are rejoined with free ends different from their original partners, chromosome aberrations are introduced. If the two misrejoined free ends are on different chromosomes, the chromosome aberration is called an interchange, and the number of interchanges observed for each chromosome pair can help indicate chromosome positioning in the nucleus. In this presentation I will show our current mathematical methods to interrogate mFISH or SKY data for chromosome clustering (i.e. for deviations from randomness in the relative positions of chromosomes). Our approach is based on the hypothesis that chromosomes that are in close proximity form radiation induced chromosome aberrations more often than those that are far apart (known as the proximity effect hypothesis). When applying these methods to human lymphocytes we find two sets of chromosomes that are on average closer to each other than what randomness would predict these are: {1,16,17,19,22}and {13,14,15,21,22} (Cornforth et al. 2002, Arsuaga et al. 2004, Vives et al. 2005). We are currently characterizing features of nuclear organization that different types of radiations can detect. We are also extending our studies to human fibroblasts for which we are developing data mining methods. F. Javier Arsuaga (San Francisco State University) Mathematical methods to study the relative position of chromosomes during interphase in human cells Abstract: Same abstract as the 9/20 talk. F. Javier Arsuaga (San Francisco State University) Quantitative analysis of radiation induced chromosome aberrations Abstract: Chromosome aberrations are large-scale illegitimate rearrangements of the genome. They are indicative of DNA damage and of disease and are informative of nuclear architecture and of DNA damage processing pathways. In this talk I will present our mathematical approaches to analyze multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization (mFISH)assays. Nathan Baker (Washington University School of Medicine) Assessing the ability of continuum solvation models to accurately model nucleic acid electrostatics Abstract: Continuum electrostatics methods have become increasingly popular due to their ability to provide approximate descriptions of solvation energies and forces without the expensive sampling required by all-atom solvent models. In particular, the Poisson–Boltzmann equation (PBE) provides electrostatic potentials, solvation energies, and forces by modeling the solvent as a featureless dielectric material and the mobile ions as a continuous distribution of charge. Polar solvation forces and energies obtained from the PBE are often supplemented with simple solvent-accessible surface area (SASA) models of nonpolar solvation. However, while polar and nonpolar continuum models have been assessed on their ability to reproduce global properties, such as solvation free energies, their ability to provide accurate representations of local solvation properties such as forces has not previously been adequately studied. We have performed comparisons of continuum and all-atom models of solvation forces for protein and RNA systems in order to assess the performance of continuum models for biomolecular systems of widely varying charge densities. The results of these comparisons show that current implementations of the PBE are capable of generating polar solvation forces that correlate well with explicit solvent forces for protein systems but provide significantly less accurate representations of polar solvation forces for RNA systems. Conversely, SASA-based nonpolar forces are found to have no significant correlation with nonpolar explicit solvent forces for either protein or RNA molecules. Good correlation between explicit and continuum nonpolar forces is only obtained when area, volume, and attractive dispersion forces are included in the continuum model. We discuss the implications of these studies in the context of molecular simulation as well as the impact of this work on basic models for understanding experimental observations of biomolecular binding and folding. Meredith Betterton (University of Colorado) Helicase unwinding of dsDNA: velocity, processivity, and collective effects Abstract: Helicases are molecular motors which unwind double-stranded nucleic acids. Many helicases move with directional bias on single strands, and couple directional translocation to strand separation. We describe a theory of the coupling between translocation and unwinding, which uses an interaction potential to represent passive and active helicase mechanisms. Varying the interaction potential to represent passive or active opening alters the predicted unwinding velocity and processivity of a helicase. We describe the model predictions for the dependence on the interaction potential, helicase step size, and average base-pair binding free energy. New theoretical results on unwinding by multiple interacting helicases are compared to experimental data from the Antoine van Oijen lab, which suggest unwinding by multiple helicases can show a higher apparent velocity and processivity. Erik Boczko (Vanderbilt University) Molecular seismology: An inverse problem in nanobiology Abstract: The material properties of an elastic fiber like DNA will change in space and time as ligands associate with it. This observation affords a new direction in single molecule studies provided that material properties such as the density profile can be measured in space and time. In fact, this is precisely the objective of seismology, where the mathematics of inverse problems have been employed with success. We argue that inverse problems in elastic media can be directly applied to biophysical problems of fiber-ligand association, and demonstrate that robust algorithms exist to perform material reconstruction in the condensed phase. Gregory S. Chirikjian (Johns Hopkins University) Conformational statistics of DNA Abstract: DNA can be viewed as a semiflexible polymer, and represented at a coarse scale as a continuous helical elastic rod. In this talk, methods from the theory of Lie groups are used to analyze equilibrium conformations of helical rod models of DNA with end constraints. When the ends of a segment of DNA are free to move, the resulting cloud of reference frames visited by the distal end of the segment relative to the proximal end can be characterized as a probability density function on the Euclidean motion group. The relationship between this pdf and the stiffness parameters of the helical rod model is derived using methods of noncommutative harmonic analysis. Bernard D. Coleman (Rutgers University) On problems in DNA elasticity in which electrostatic forces, the sequence dependence of elastic properties. and the impenetrability of the DNA molecule must all be taken into account Abstract: In this talk on DNA elasticity, that is based on recent research of Yoav Biton and is an extension of earlier research of Biton, Coleman, and Swigon, it will be shown that there are cases in which self-contact occurs even though the intramolecular electrostatic forces of repulsion are strong. The theory to be presented permits one to calculate minimum energy configurations of supercoiled non-homogeneous DNA minicircles and the dependence on linking number and salt concentration of the proximity and relative orientation of sequentially remote sites whose interaction can be a matter of biological importance. Y.Y. Biton, B.D. Coleman, D. Swigon, On bifurcations of intrinsically curved, electrically charged, rod-like structures that model DNA molecules in solution, J. Elasticity 87, 187-210, 2007. Vincent Croquette (École Normale Supérieure) Real-time observation of bacteriophage T4 gp41 helicase reveals unwinding mechanism Abstract: Joint work with Timothée Lionnet1, Michelle M. Spiering2, Stephen J. Benkovic2, and David Bensimon1 Helicases are enzymes that couple ATP hydrolysis to the unwinding of double-stranded (ds) nucleic acids. The bacteriophage T4 helicase (gp41) is a hexameric helicase that promotes DNA replication within a highly coordinated protein complex termed the replisome. Despite recent progress, the gp41 unwinding mechanism and regulatory interactions within the replisome remain unclear. Here we use a single tethered DNA hairpin as a real-time reporter of gp41-mediated dsDNA unwinding and ssDNA translocation with 3-bp resolution. Whereas gp41 translocates on ssDNA as fast as the /in vivo/ replication fork (~400 bp/s), its unwinding rate extrapolated to zero force is much slower (~30 bp/s). Taken together, our results have two implications: first, gp41 unwinds DNA through a passive mechanism; second, this weak helicase cannot efficiently unwind the T4 genome alone. Future experiments on the full replisome will be useful to understand how fast and processive replication is achieved. 1LPS, ENS, Paris, France.; 2Dept.of Chemistry, Penn State University, USA. Feng Cui (National Institutes of Health) Chicken and yeast nucleosomal DNA sequences differ at the ends: A possible relation to the linker histone binding Abstract: The linker histones (LH) bind at the entry/exit points of nucleosomal DNA and protect additional ~20 bp. It remains unknown, however, what are the DNA sequence features facilitating the LH binding. To address this question, we analyzed the ~20-bp fragments flanking the chicken [1] and yeast [2] nucleosome core particles (NCP) by ‘extracting’ them from the corresponding genomes. The two species differ in LH abundance quite substantially: the fraction of the LH-associated nucleosomes varies from ~100% in chicken to 2-3% in yeast [3]. Therefore, we expected that the difference in stoichiometry of the LH binding would be reflected in the DNA sequence organization. We found that several ‘minor-groove bendable’ dimers (AA:TT and AT, denoted as AT2) are distributed differently in the two sets of sequences. In yeast, the periodic oscillation of these dimers extends beyond the ends of nucleosomal DNA; the ‘internal’ peaks are in phase with the ‘external’ AT2 peaks observed in flanking sequences. For the chicken NCP, the AT2 peaks in the flanking sequences are out of phase with the nucleosomal AA:TT peaks [1]. In our interpretation, this difference reflects different spatial trajectories of DNA at the entry/exit points. In most of the yeast nucleosomes (depleted of LH), the DNA at the ends of NCP fragments follows its ‘natural extension’ trajectory, leaving no space for the linker histones. By contrast, the chicken DNA adopts an additional ‘out-of-phase’ bend at the NCP end (not visible in the NCP Xray structures), thereby making enough space to accommodate the linker histone. Furthermore, the AT2 elements are distributed asymmetrically between the two ends of chicken NCP sequences, consistent with the asymmetric, off-axis location of LH on the nucleosome. Thus, our findings suggest that the ‘out-of-phase’ AT-rich elements characteristic of the chicken NCP flanking sequences, represent a novel feature associated with LH binding. [1] Satchwell, S. C. et al. J. Mol. Biol. 191, 659-675 (1986). [2] Segal, E. et al. Nature 442, 772-778 (2006). [3] Freidkin, I. and Katcoff, D. J. Nucleic Acids Res. 29, 4043-4051 (2001). Jeremy Curuksu (Jacobs University) Free energy simulation studies of sharp DNA bending using a global restraint of space-invariant internucleotides rotation axis Abstract: The poster present a DNA bending restraining method for use during Umbrella Sampling Molecular Dynamics based on the orientation of local screw axis. Result are reported on free energy simulations of induced bending on short DNA fragments which reproduce the stress-strain curve of bend angle probabilities recently obtained by AFM experiments on the same length scale. Our results suggest a two-states transition (associated to flexible base-pair kink) between bend angle conformers. We also present an Hamiltonian Replica Exchange technique to improve limited sampling due to strongly bent conformations trapped in local energy minima. Luke Czapla (Rutgers University) The effect of the nucleoid protein HU on the structure, flexibility, and ring-closure properties of DNA deduced from Monte Carlo simulation Abstract: Joint work with David Swigon and Wilma K Olson (PI). A recently developed Monte Carlo technique for calculating the cyclization propensity of DNA chains has been modified to consider the effect of proteins which bind randomly to the double helix. The method is applied to consider the bacterial nucleoid protein HU, known to bind non-specifically to unmodified double-helical DNA. We simulate chains with a fixed average number of bound protein, with proteins placed in random positions. Our results predict that not only will HU greatly enhance DNA cyclization, as measured by the J factor, but that the effect of helical repeat is greatly reduced and the J factor is nearly constant over a wide range of chain lengths. Moreover, HU induces negative supercoiling which condenses the DNA, consistent with the requirement of HU for bacterial nucleoid condensation. The mechanism of sharp bending and significant untwisting of HU-bound DNA is common among proteins known to restore this nucleoid condensation. Mathematical and computational techniques involved in the Monte Carlo simulation of DNA will be discussed. Isabel K. Darcy (University of Iowa) Tangle analysis of protein-DNA complexes Abstract: Protein-DNA complexes have been modeled using tangles. A tangle consists of arcs properly embedded in a 3-dimensional ball. The protein is modeled by the 3D ball while the segments of DNA bound by the protein can be thought of as arcs embedded within the protein ball. This is a very simple model of protein-DNA binding, but from this simple model, much information can be gained. The main idea is that when modeling protein-DNA reactions, one would like to know how to draw the DNA. For example, are there any crossings trapped by the protein complex? How do the DNA strands exit the complex? Is there significant bending? Tangle analysis cannot determine the exact geometry of the protein-bound DNA, but it can determine the overall entanglement of this DNA, after which other techniques may be used to more precisely determine the geometry. The latest mathematics and software for solving tangle equations will be discussed. Melanie DeVries (University of Iowa) Generating a tangle table for DNA protein complex modeling Abstract: A tangle is an object consisting of arcs properly embedded in a 3-dimensional ball. This is a simple model for DNA protein complexes. The protein is thought of as a 3D ball, while the segments of DNA are represented by the arcs. While a tangle is a simple model for a DNA protein complex, it is often not easy to determine what tangle describes a given complex. One method involves checking every tangle up to a given crossing number. Hence a table of tangles has been created. This was done by generating all possible tangles by taking all permutations of a numerical encoding of tangles, a generalization of the Dowker code, and using variations of Reidemeister moves and invariants to remove tangles and differentiate tangles on the list. This table can be used for various purposes such as to improve distance tables and to solve tangle equations. Marcia O. Fenley (Florida State University) Mathematics of molecular and cellular biology seminar: Revisiting the salt dependence of the drug-DNA association process: A Poisson-Boltzmann analysis Abstract: The proper modeling of salt-mediated electrostatic interactions is essential in order to correctly account for the energetics of a variety of biological processes involving nucleic acids since they are highly charged polyelectrolytes. Due to the high charge density of nucleic acids, ions in the solution will condense around them. This “counterion cloud” that surrounds nucleic acids, which is not captured with structural techniques such as X-ray crystallography and NMR, is an integral part of their structure and essential to maintain their stability. Given this unique highly charged polyelectrolyte nature of nucleic acids it is not surprising that small changes in salt concentration can greatly affect its association with charged ligands (e.g., cationic drugs). Here, we examine the salt dependence of the association of more than 40 cationic minor groove antibiotics to AT-rich DNAs, for many of which thermodynamic binding data is available, using a novel implicit solvent-based Poisson-Boltzmann algorithm. We find that the plots of the electrostatic binding free energy versus the logarithm of salt concentration are linear, based on both the linear and nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation. The slopes of these curves can be directly compared with experimental thermodynamic data of the observed binding constant at various salt concentrations. The good agreement between experimental and Poisson-Boltzmann predictions is only possible if the full nonlinear Poisson-Boltzmann equation is employed, since the linear PBE overestimates the slope of the plots of the electrostatic binding free energies vs. the logarithm of salt concentration. Thus, our results suggest that one should not employ the linear Poisson-Boltzmann or Generalized Born approach in order to assess the salt dependent behavior of nucleic acids. Further experimental and implicit solvent-based computational studies should be performed in order to verify if indeed the linear PBE always overestimates the salt dependence of the binding energetics of charged ligand-nucleic acid complexes. Marcia O. Fenley (Florida State University) Exploring salt-mediated electrostatics in the association of TATA binding proteins to DNA with a combined molecular mechanics/Poisson-Boltzmann approach Abstract: Joint work with Johan H. Bredenberg and Cristina Russo (Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee). TATA box binding proteins (TBPs) from hyperthermophilic and halophilic organisms, e.g. Pyrococcus woesei (Pw), function optimally at high temperatures and/or salt concentrations. Such proteins associate to DNA with different mechanisms than their mesophilic homologues. Halophilic TBPs sequester cations while mesophilic (Greek, meso – intermediate) TBPs may both release and sequester ions from the DNA ion atmosphere upon association. Our results from a Molecular Mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann computational study on the binding of mesophilic and halophilic TBPs to DNA, suggests that the widely used oligocationic binding model for describing nucleic acid association to charged ligands may not depict the whole association process when acidic residues such as Asp and Glu are found in the binding interface. Instead, the distribution and the total number of charged residues may be the main underlying contributor in the association process, since the little correlation between the widely used ion-pair rule and the salt dependence of binding is found in these kind of systems. We also compare the linear and non-linear solution to the Poisson-Boltzmann Equation and find that the latter is in better agreement with experimentally observed differences in the salt dependence of DNA-binding to mesophilic and halophilic TPBs. Laura Finzi (Emory University) Lysogeny maintenance: a matter of looping Abstract: After infecting a host bacterium, bacteriophage lambda, may lie latent (lysogeny), or reproduce and lyse the host bacterium. Only 1 infected cell in 10 million lyses spontaneously, but the switch to lysis is extremely efficient if the bacterial host becomes endangered. The phage protein CI is responsible for maintaining lysogeny by regulating the transcription of itself and genes responsible for lysis. CI mediates a DNA loop by cooperatively binding two triplets of DNA sites separated by 2.3 kbp. Using the tethered particle motion technique and magnetic tweezers we are probing parameters that underlie the remarkable stability of the lysogenic (looped) state. Peter Hinow (Vanderbilt University) Abstract: In this talk, two topics from my dissertation research will be presented - inverse problems in nanobiology and the analysis of an age-structured population model. The density profile of an elastic fiber like DNA will change in space and time as ligands associate with it. This observation affords a new direction in single molecule studies provided that density profiles can be measured in space and time. In fact, this is precisely the objective of seismology, where the mathematics of inverse problems have been employed with success. We argue that inverse problems in elastic media can be directly applied to biophysical problems of fiber--ligand association, and demonstrate that robust algorithms exist to perform density reconstruction in the condensed phase. In the second part of the talk we will turn to a nonlinear partial differential equation model for an age--structured population. A characteristic of many growth processes is that as the number of individuals inreases, the population growth slows. In the case of a tumor cell mass, cells can belong to two distinct subpopulations, namely those of proliferating versus nonproliferating cells. It was shown previously that a linear model of the same structure has the property of asynchronous exponential growth. That is, the age distribution approaches a limit shape and the total number of cells grows to infinity or decays to zero. The situation is different in the nonlinear model under consideration, where transition rates between proliferating and nonproliferating classes depend on the total population. Under a certain natural condition, namely that both \$0\$ and \$\infty\$ are repelling in the total population space, we show that the nonlinear population dynamic model based on chronological age must have a nontrivial equilibrium solution. Xia Hua (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Mariel Vazquez (San Francisco State University) Modelling DNA unknotting by type II topoisomerases Abstract: Xia Hua1, Nathan Shayefar2, Itamar Landau2, Reuben Brascher3, Juliet Portillo3 and Mariel Vazquez3 DNA knots and links affect crucial cellular processes such as DNA replication, transcription regulation, chromatin modification and cell division. Type II topoisomerases simplify DNA knots and links efficiently by performing strand-passage on DNA strands. Experimental studies have shown that these enzymes simplify the topology of DNA below thermodynamical equilibrium. However the key behind their efficiency is yet to be revealed. Motivated by these experimental observations, we study random transitions of knotted polygonal chains of fixed length. We use a modified BFACF algorithm to sample an ensemble of polygons of a fixed knot type in Z3 according to the Boltzmann distribution. We perform random strand-passage on the polygons using a novel algorithm that operates at the Dowker-Thistlethwaite code level. Topological biases are introduced at the strand-passage step and one-step transition probabilities and steady state distributions are obtained. Finally we explore the effect of the solution’s ionic strength on the steady state distributions. This work is funded by an NIH MBRS SCORE grant to MV (S06 GM052588) 1 Department of Mathematics, MIT 2 Department of Mathematics, UC Berkeley 3 Department of Mathematics, San Francisco State University E. Mckay Hyde (Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG) IMA/MCIM Industrial problems seminar: Goldman Sachs: Career opportunities for quantitative individuals Abstract: Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking, securities and investment management firm that provides a wide range of services worldwide to a substantial and diversified client base that includes corporations, financial institutions, governments and high net worth individuals. Goldman Sachs has long been a destination for newly minted MBAs, but with the increasing complexity of financial products, the firm has become a major recruiter of highly quantitative individuals, often with little or no business training, who fill roles in derivative pricing, risk management and portfolio optimization. For these positions, the firm is particularly interested in individuals with a background of study in mathematics, physics, engineering, computer science or another highly quantitative discipline as well as excellent problem solving abilities and strong programming skills. In this talk, I will attempt to convey, from my experience, a sense what it is like to work in the financial industry, the opportunities available to quantitative individuals and the nature of some of the mathematical problems that one encounters. Makkuni Jayaram (University of Texas) Difference topology: Analysis of DNA architecture in complex DNA-protein assemblies Abstract: Joint work with Rasika M Harshey, Section of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712. Important DNA transactions in biological systems, replication, transcription, recombination etc., often require the assembly of complex protein machines at specific DNA sites. Within these higher order assemblies, the DNA often follows a defined path, generating a fixed number of duplex crossings characteristic of individual systems. In the absence of crystal structure data, it is well nigh impossible to decipher the DNA topology organized by a particular protein machine. A ‘difference topology’ method, based on site-specific recombination, can be employed to derive this information indirectly. The rationale of the analysis is outlined below. Simple members of the tyrosine family site-specific recombinases, Flp and Cre, mediate DNA exchange by arranging their target sites in an antiparallel fashion and introducing no DNA crossing during recombination. Flp and Cre are therefore useful in sealing off DNA domains by recombination and preserving the DNA crossings between two sites introduced by another recombinase or transposase protein or a multi-protein complex. The crossings can be displayed and counted as knot crossings or catenane crossings by suitable analytical methods. Knots result when Flp or Cre mediates inversion between a pair of head-to-head sites; catenanes are formed when the recombinase mediates deletion between head-to-tail sites. For a matched pair of inversion and deletion substrates, the crossing numbers between the knot and catenane products will differ by one, and the smaller number will represent the DNA crossings present in the ‘unknown synapse’ being analyzed. The extra node is imposed by the requirement that Flp or Cre recombination sites have to be arranged in antiparallel geometry. In the case of a system with multiple site interactions, these can be broken down into a series of pairwise interactions, and the crossings between each pair analyzed independently. They may then be summed to arrive at the composite interactions among all of the sites. The difference topology method can also be useful in revealing the topological changes during the maturation of dynamic DNA-protein assemblies. Furthermore, in cases where identical protein monomers associate with several copies of a consensus DNA site, it can help define the interactions between individual protein subunits and their cognate sites that mould the final architecture of a DNA-protein complex. Jason D. Kahn (University of Maryland) Design, analysis, and modeling of protein-DNA loops Abstract: DNA looping allows protein transcription factors to act at a distance along DNA. Looping is also a test bed for theories on DNA and protein structure and flexibility. However, most natural DNA loops are not stable enough for structural studies. We have designed and constructed bent DNA molecules that form hyperstable DNA loops anchored by the Lac repressor. Biochemical and fluorescence experiments show that different loop constructs can adopt different conformations, but the shapes of the loops remain uncertain, and the landscape of loop thermodynamics as a function of DNA sequence is not well-explored. We present experimental and theoretical approaches aimed at disentangling the roles of protein and DNA flexibility in this important model system. Alex Kasman (College of Charleston) DNA solitons as an explanation for codon bias Abstract: This talk will begin with a brief historical introduction to solitons, a nonlinear wave phenomenon that has been of great interest to mathematics and physics since the late 1960's. Among the many mysteries in science for which a soliton model has been proposed is the question of how the transcription "bubble" moves along a DNA molecule during protein production. In particular, the work of Englander in 1980 suggested that it was actually an example of nonlinear dynamics induced by the attraction of the base pairs, taking the form of a discrete Sine-Gordon equation. More recently, inhomogeneous versions of this model have been introduced which take into account the effect of the particular DNA sequence on the dynamics. I will argue that nonlinear dynamics could also provide an explanation for "codon bias" (the apparent preference for certain codons over others encoding the same amino acid in biological systems). Some numerical experiments will be presented to support this hypothesis, but this work is truly preliminary and it is my hope that the audience will be able to provide guidance and suggestions for the continuation of this project. Soojeong Kim (University of Iowa) A tangle analysis of a DNA-protein complex which binds four DNA segments Abstract: In the late 80's Ernst and Sumners [1] first introduced the mathematical tangle model of DNA-protein complexes. More recently, in 2002, Pathania, Jayaram and Harshey [2] designed a new methodology called difference topology in order to derive the number of DNA crossings trapped in an unknown synapse. Pathania et al revealed the topological structure within the Mu transpososome consisted of three DNA segments containing five nodes. These experimental results were also analyzed in [3]. They described infinitely many solutions to the same tangle equations, but argued that Pathania et al.'s model is the only biologically reasonable one. The Mu transpososome protein complex binds three DNA segments there exist protein complexes which bind more than three DNA segments. In this talk, I would like to extend some of the 3-string tangle analysis in [3] to DNA protein complex containing four DNA segments. References: [1] C. Ernst, D. W. Sumners, A calculus for rational tangles: applications to DNA recombination, Math. Proc. Camb. Phil. Soc. 108 (1990), 489-515. [2] S. Pathania, M. Jayaram, and R. Harshey, Path of DNA within the Mu transpososome: Transposase interaction bridging two Mu ends and the enhancer trap five DNA superdoils, Cell 109 (2002), 425-436. [3] I. K. Darcy, J. Luecke, and M. Vazquez, A tangle analysis of the Mu transpososome protein complex which binds three DNA segments, Preprint. Jörg Langowski (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (Cancer Research)(DKFZ)) Nucleosome and chromatin structure and dynamics studied by fluorescence techniques and computer modeling Abstract: Same abstract as the 9/19 talk. Jörg Langowski (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (Cancer Research)(DKFZ)) Nucleosome and chromatin structure and dynamics studied by fluorescence techniques and computer modeling Abstract: The higher order structure of chromatin depends crucially on the local geometry of the DNA on the nucleosome. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) is a very convenient method to measure intramolecular distances in such large biomolecules and thereby obtain information on the DNA geometry. Varying label positions, DNA fragment length, histone modifications and buffer conditions gives valuable insight into the structure of mono- and trinucleosomes. FRET experiments under single-molecule conditions on freely diffusing nucleosomes furthermore demonstrate the resolution of structural subpopulations of nucleosomes and their interconversion. To combine experimental data with higher-order structural models of the chromatin fiber, we developed a number of coarse-grained approaches to simulating the structure and dynamics of chromatin, ranging from single nucleosomes to the 30 nm chromatin fiber. Based on the known crystallographic structure of the nucleosome and on all- atom molecular dynamics, effective force fields are developed which allow dynamic simulations of mononucleosomes over 0.5 µs in a one- bead-per-residue approximation. For larger length and time scales, the DNA is approximated by a segmented polymer chain and the nucleosomes by rigid cylinders which interact through different salt- dependent interaction potentials. This approach allows for the prediction of possible higher-order structures and their mechanical properties. As examples, we show the unrolling of DNA from the histone core, the response of the 30 nm chromatin fiber to mechanical stretching, and possible regimes of stable and unstable packing of chromatin. Richard Lavery (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)) DNA mechanics: Deformation and recognition Abstract: DNA can easily be deformed by external factors including molecular interactions and applied forces. We have used molecular modeling and simulation to investigate the structural and energetic nature of these deformations both in generic terms and, more finely, to understand their sequence dependence and therefore to decode their role in recognition processes. Stephen D. Levene (University of Texas at Dallas) Closing the loop on protein-DNA interactions Abstract: The formation of DNA loops by proteins bound at distant sites along a single molecule is an essential mechanistic aspect of many biological processes including gene regulation, DNA replication, and recombination. The biological importance of DNA loop formation is underscored by an abundance of architectural proteins in cells such as HU, IHF, and HMGs, which facilitate looping by bending the intervening DNA between cognate protein-binding sites. We have developed a rigorous theory for DNA loop formation that connects the global mechanical and geometric properties of both DNA and protein, including previously neglected phenomena such as conformational flexibility of protein domains. Applications to problems in gene regulation and DNA recombination both in vitro and in vivo will be discussed. David M.J. Lilley (University of Dundee) Structure and dynamics of the four-way DNA junction Abstract: Genetic recombination is important in the repair of double strand DNA breaks, the processing of stalled replication forks and in the generation of genetic diversity in evolution. During this process, two homologous DNA molecules undergo strand exchange to form a four-way DNA (Holliday) junction. The junction adopts a folded structure in the presence of divalent metal ions, generated by pairwise coaxial stacking of helical arms. DNA junctions display rich dynamic properties including stacking conformer exchange transitions and branch migration. These processes cannot be synchronized, and so are difficult to study in bulk. Single-molecule fluorescence methods have allowed us to detect the transitions directly and to gain new insights into the energy landscape of conformer transitions and branch migration. Electrostatic interactions are very important in the DNA junction. Folding and dynamics are strongly affected by the presence of metal ions. Conversion of a centrally-located phosphate group to an electrically-neutral methyl phosphonate group in a four-way DNA junction can exert a major influence on its conformation, allowing folding to occur in the absence of metal ions. However, the effect can be strongly dependent on stereochemistry. It is likely that the stereochemical environment of the methyl group affects the interaction with metal ions in the centre of the junction. Four-way junctions are selectively bound by resolving enzymes; these serve as paradigms for the molecular recognition of DNA structure on a larger scale. We have recently solved the crystal structure of T7 endonuclease I bound to a DNA junction. This reveals how the geometry of the branched DNA can be recognized, while at the same time being distorted by the enzyme. The recognition process exploits the dynamic character of the junction to mould it onto the large binding surface of the protein. D.M.J. Lilley Structures of helical junctions in nucleic acids Quart. Rev. Biophys. 33, 109-159 (2000). S.A. McKinney, A.-C. Déclais, D.M.J. Lilley and T. Ha Structural dynamics of individual Holliday junctions Nature Struct. Biol. 10, 93-97 (2003). J. Liu, A.-C. Déclais and D.M.J. Lilley Electrostatic interactions and the folding of the four-way DNA junction: analysis by selective methyl phosphonate substitution J. Molec. Biol. 343, 851–864 (2004). S. A. McKinney, A. D. Freeman, D. M. J. Lilley and T. Ha Observing spontaneous branch migration of Holliday junctions one step at a time Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102, 5715-5720 (2005). J. Liu, A.-C. Déclais, S. McKinney, T. Ha, D.G. Norman and D.M.J. Lilley Stereospecific effects determine the structure of a four-way DNA junction Chem. & Biol. 12, 217-228 (2005). J.M. Hadden, A.-C. Déclais, S.B. Carr, D.M.J. Lilley and S.E.V. Phillips The structural basis of Holliday junction resolution. Submitted for publication (2007). Sookkyung Lim (University of Cincinnati) Macroscopic modeling of a circular rod with twist and bend in a viscous fluid Abstract: The overwound or underwound double helix of DNA occurs in DNA transcription, DNA replication, and formation of DNA loops in protein-DNA interactions, which are essential in biological processes. In particular, the deformation of circular DNA molecules occurs in many prokaryotic and viral DNAs and also occurs in the mitochondria of eukaryotic cells. We consider an elastic rod in a closed circular configuration with a uniform twist that adds up to an integer number of full turns so that the triad configuration is smoothly periodic. Moreover this rod is embedded in the incompressible viscous fluid. A new version of the immersed boundary method is used to study the instability of a circular rod with twist and bend in a viscous fluid. If the twist in the rod is sufficiently small, the rod simply returns to its circular equilibrium configuration, but for larger twists that equilibrium configuration becomes unstable, and the rod undergoes large excursions before relaxing to a stable coiled configuration. Sookkyung Lim (University of Cincinnati) Macroscopic modeling of a circular rod with twist and bend in a viscous fluid Abstract: Same abstract as the 9/19 talk. James Maher (Mayo Clinic) Approaches to understanding the origin and management of DNA stiffness Abstract: Duplex DNA, the genetic material in living cells, is an unusually inflexible biopolymer. The persistence length of duplex DNA corresponds to 150 base pairs under physiological conditions. Surprisingly, the physical origin of this DNA stiffness is unknown. In particular, the contribution of the high negative charge density of DNA to its stiffness remains both uncertain and controversial. The intrinsic inflexibility of DNA is managed in living cells by the formation of nucleoprotein complexes in which DNA is often dramatically bent, kinked and looped. This presentation will review two related areas of interest to our laboratory. The first concerns approaches to measure or predict the effect of charge density on DNA stiffness. We ask to what extent DNA stiffness is due to DNA charge. The second concerns the mechanism of sequence-nonspecific proteins that stabilize highly-bent DNA structures, thereby reducing the apparent persistence length of DNA. Such proteins include the bacterial HU protein and eukaryotic HMGB proteins. We describe the results of ensemble and single-molecule experiments revealing the effect of HMGB proteins on apparent DNA stiffness. We then describe experiments in living E. coli bacterial cells emphasizing the importance of DNA flexibility enhancement by proteins to facilitate gene repression by DNA looping. John F. Marko (Northwestern University) Torque in stretched and twisted DNA Abstract: In experiments where DNA is pulled at constant force and twisted, a mixed state of extended twisted DNA and plectonemically supercoiled DNA is easily obtained. I will review the thermodynamics of this "state coexistence" phenomenon. A particularly elegant use of plectoneme-extended DNA coexistence is as a source of constant torque for single-DNA experiments. I will discuss the estimation of torques and free energies in such experiments, and I will provide some useful closed-form formulae, most notably for the torque in DNA as a function of force. I will review experiments where estimation of DNA torques allowed study of rotational friction during DNA relaxation by type IB and IC topoisomerases. I will also discuss experiments where DNA torques were directly measured rather than estimated. Reference: J.F. Marko, Torque and dynamics of linking number relaxation in stretched supercoiled DNA, Phys. Rev. E 76, Art. 021926 (2007) Kyle McQuisten (University of Iowa) Tangle models for recombinase action Abstract: Recombinases are enzymes that bind and manipulate strands of DNA. The action within the enzyme is not observable directly, but can be inferred using equations involving topological objects called tangles. A 2-string tangle is a ball along with two arcs properly embedded within the ball. When modeling a DNA/enzyme complex with a 2-string tangle, the ball represents the enzyme that binds the two DNA segments, and the two arcs represent the DNA segments themselves. When recombinases are applied to circular DNA, different DNA knots can be formed. Equations using the tangle model of Sumners and Ernst can then be used to understand the action of the enzyme. Solutions will be presented for the class of knots called Montesinos knots. Hyeyoung Moon (University of Iowa) Polynomial invariants, knot distances and topoisomerase action Abstract: The knot distance between two knots is defined as the minimum number of crossing changes that convert one knot to the other. Knot distances are related to the study of topoisomerase action. Type II topoisomerases are enzymes that break the backbone of DNA and allow passage of another segment of DNA through the break before resealing the break. In other words, these enzymes are involved in changing crossings of DNA knots. Using some mathematical theories, knot distances have been tabulated for rational knots, some non-rational knots and composite of rational knots up to 13 crossings. However, there are still undetermined distances in the knot distance table. Here I would like to apply some polynomial invariants to improve lower bounds of knot distances. In particular, I generalized proposition 3.1 in the paper,' Polynomial values, the linking form and unknotting numbers' by A. Stoimenow. Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University) Sequence-dependent helical structure and global responses of DNA Part I. Abstract: (Towards understanding the processing and packaging of genetic information at the molecular level) Part I. Information content in known three-dimensional structures of nucleic acids: sequence-dependent conformation, deformation, interactions A. The classic B-DNA double helix: Watson-Crick base pair side groups vs. the polyanionic sugar-phosphate backbone B. DNA phase transitions and RNA double helices The A/B double helical transition and DNA bending Structural discriminants of A vs. B DNA Protein-induced A/B transitions The B/C double helical transition and DNA packaging Nucleosome core particle: a striking example of protein-induced DNA deformation via concerted changes in kinking and base-pair displacement Tight bending of DNA via B→A and B→C helical transitions The A-RNA double helix, including non-canonical base pairs C. Chemical basis of DNA sequence-dependent properties: structure, deformability, recognition Indirect (electrostatic) mechanism of nucleosomal DNA folding vs. sequence-dependent character of known positioning sequences Indirect recognition of sequences: pyrimidine-purine base-pair steps as sites of DNA deformability Patterns of base-amino acid contacts: direct recognition of specific DNA sequences by proteins DNA electrostatics, amino acid binding propensities, intrinsic curvature Recognition and structural roles of non-canonical base pairs Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University) Part II: Implications of base sequence-dependent structural information on larger-scale genetic control Abstract: A. Quantitation of local, sequence-dependent properties of DNA Low resolution models, including knowledge-based potentials Linear, sequence-dependent three-dimensional structures B. Effects of sequence on ring closure properties of closed molecules Sequence-dependent factors that enhance the formation of tight minicircles and loops Mechanics of superhelix formation: roles of bending, twisting, and base-pair displacement Nucleotide looping and global folding of RNA C. Effects of sequence on the equilibrium structures and normal modes of cyclized DNA Constrains of bound proteins on global structure and motions Nucleosome positioning sequences and minichromosomes Wilma K. Olson (Rutgers University) Effects of the nucleoid protein HU on the structure, flexibility, and ring-closure properties of DNA deduced from Monte-Carlo simulations Abstract: Making sense of gene repression in living bacteria requires understanding of the looping properties of DNA in crowded, multi-component systems. The presence of HU, a non-specific binding protein that introduces sharp bends and localized untwisting in double-helical DNA, stabilizes functional repression loops as small as ~65 base pairs. As a first step in the analysis of such looping, we have investigated the effects of HU on the configurational properties of short fragments of ideal B DNA, treating the DNA at the level of base-pair steps and incorporating the known effects of HU on DNA structure. We introduce a new sampling technique to model the non-specific binding of HU on DNA and use Monte-Carlo methods to generate three-dimensional configurations of protein-bound DNA. The presentation will focus on properties of small circular duplexes formed in the presence of HU and the implications of these data for the in-vivo looping properties of DNA. Ariel Prunell (Institut Jacques Monod) Nucleosome dynamics probed by torsional manipulation of single chromatin fibers Abstract: Single chromatin fibers were reconstituted in vitro by salt dialysis from purified histone octamers and 2×18 tandem repeats of the 5S DNA positioning sequence. The fibers were flanked by naked ∼600 bp DNA spacers and ∼500 bp DNA stickers modified with digoxigenin and biotin destined to be linked respectively to the coated bottom of the flow cell and to the paramagnetic bead. This construction is then placed under the rotating magnet of a magnetic tweezers set-up to exert a torque and a pulling force on the fiber. The fiber stretching (force-vs.-extension) and torsional (extension-vs.-rotation) behaviors were then recorded. Whereas the stretching behavior is similar to that previously observed by other authors using e. g. optical tweezers, the torsional behavior shows a bell-shaped curve with a breath much larger than obtained with naked DNA of the same length. These curves were fitted with the worm-like rope model widely used for DNA, which represents the molecule (here the chromatin fiber) as an isotropic elastic rod of defined bending, stretching and twisting moduli. Good fittings were obtained with a fiber bending persistence length of 28 nm and a stretching modulus of 8 pN, in agreement with previous studies. In contrast, the twisting persistence length, obtained here for the fist time, was exceptionally low, ∼5 nm against ∼80 nm for DNA. Such a fiber high torsional resilience was inconsistent with the existence of nucleosomes locked in their canonical negatively-crossed conformation. In contrast, it could be described by a molecular model of the fiber architecture in which nucleosomes are in a thermodynamic equilibrium between the three conformational states initially identified for single nucleosomes on DNA minicircles (reviewed in ref. 1), depending on the crossing statuses of entry-exit DNAs (negative, null or positive). Beyond applied torsions at which all nucleosomes are forced to cross either negatively or positively, the fiber length decreases rapidly and linearly. By analogy to the torsional behavior of DNA (ref. 2), this was attributed to the formation of plectonemes, in which nucleosomes are extruded to the outside (ref. 3). When fibers were submitted to large positive torsions beyond their maximal compaction, the backward curves obtained upon reversing the torsion depart from the onward curves. A positive shift is observed at positive torsions which progressively disappears at negative torsions. This reversible hysteresis corresponds to the transition of the nucleosomes to a transient altered state which traps one positive turn. Comparison with the response of fibers of tetrasomes obtained through depletion of H2A-H2B dimers using NAP-1, heparin or salt led us to conclude that the transition involves three main steps : 1) a breaking of the docking of the dimers on the (H3-H4)2 tetramer; 2) a switching of the tetramer from its left-handed to the right-handed chiral conformation previously described (reviewed in ref. 4); and 3) a undetermined rearrangement of the dimers insuring that the overall compaction of the resulting “reversomes” (for reverse nucleosomes) is similar to that of the starting nucleosomes (ref. 5) This dynamics of the nucleosomes at the level of the entry-exit DNAs, which leads to a large reorganization of the three-dimensional fiber architecture, may affect DNA binding of regulating proteins in vivo, as all tracking processes, e. g. replication and transcription, involve the generation of torsional stress. The nucleosome-reversome transition is likely to serve to relieve the almost insurmountable block against transcription by the main RNA polymerase otherwise exerted by H2A-H2B dimers in the absence of intervening factors. References 1) Prunell A. & Sivolob A. (2004) . "Paradox lost : Nucleosome structure and dynamics by the DNA minicircle approach" In Chromatin structure and dynamics : state-of-the-art. (Zlatanova, J. & Leuba, S. H., eds), Elsevier Science, Amsterdam. New Comprehensive Biochemistry, 39, 45-73. 2) Strick, T. R., Allemand, J. F., Bensimon, D., Bensimon, A. and Croquette, V. (1996). The elasticity of a single supercoiled DNA molecule. Science 271, 1835-1837. 3) Bancaud A., Conde e Silva N., Barbi M., Wagner G., Allemand J.-F., Mozziconacci J., Lavelle C., Croquette V., Victor J.-M., Prunell A. & Viovy J.-L. (2006). Structural plasticity of single chromatin fibers revealed by torsional manipulation. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 13, 444-450. 4) Sivolob A. & Prunell A. (2004). Nucleosome conformational flexibility and implications for chromatin dynamics. Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. A. 362, 1519 - 1547. 5) Bancaud A., Wagner G., Conde e Silva N., Lavelle C., Wong H., Mozziconacci J., Barbi M., Sivolob A., Le Cam E., Mouawad L., Viovy J.-L., Victor J.-M. & Prunell A. (2007). Nucleosome chiral transition under positive torsional stress in single chromatin fibers. Mol. Cell 27, 135-147. Eric Rawdon (University of St. Thomas) Smallest containers enclosing random equilateral polygons Abstract: Joint work with Akos Dobay, John C. Kern, Kenneth C. Millett, Michael Piatek, Patrick Plunkett, and Andrzej Stasiak. We explore the shape of random polygons by measuring the average dimensions of smallest boxes, spheres, and polyhedra that enclose the polygons. We present computer simulations to examine the differences between these dimensions for polygons with constrained and unconstrained topology. For each measurement, we find that the scaling profiles for polygons of a particular knot type intersect the scaling profile for phantom polygons. The number of edges at which the profiles intersect is known as the equilibrium length with respect to the given knot type and spatial measurement. These equilbrium lengths are then compared to equilibrium lengths with respect to other spatial measurements mentioned here and computed elsewhere. Chehrzad Shakiban (University of Minnesota) Signature curves in classifying DNA supercoils Abstract: Signature curves are unique curves which are assigned to two or three dimensional closed curves and are invariant under rigid motions -- such as rotation. They are most useful in computer vision applications because they allow any object to be represented by its unique signature curve regardless of its position. In this poster you can see how "signature curves" are calculated continuously and discretely using a numerical method. You can then see how an analog of Latent Semantic Analysis (a statistical method) is to categorize signature curves. Two applications are discussed: One in sorting leaves in the Euclidean plane and the other in sorting Supercoiled DNA molecules as space curves. Andrzej Stasiak (University of Lausanne) Local selection rules that can determine specific pathways of DNA unknotting by type II DNA topoisomerases Abstract: We performed numerical simulations of DNA chains to understand how local geometry of juxtaposed segments in knotted DNA molecules can guide type II DNA topoisomerases to perform very efficient relaxation of DNA knots. We investigated how the various parameters defining the geometry of intersegmental juxtapositions at sites of intersegmental passage reactions mediated by type II DNA topoisomerases can affect the topological consequences of these reactions. We confirmed the hypothesis that by recognizing specific geometry of juxtaposed DNA segments in knotted DNA molecules type II DNA topoisomerases can maintain the steady-state knotting level below the topological equilibrium. In addition, we revealed that a preference for a particular geometry of juxtaposed segments as sites of strand passage reaction enables type II DNA topoisomerases to select the most efficient pathway of relaxation of complex DNA knots. The analysis of the best selection criteria for efficient relaxation of complex knots revealed that local structures in random configurations of a given knot type statistically behave as analogous local structures in ideal geometric configurations of the corresponding knot type. De Witt L. Sumners (Florida State University) Topology/applied mathematics seminar: Random knotting and viral DNA packing: Theory and experiments Abstract: At the interface between statistical mechanics and topology, one encounters the very interesting problem of length dependence of the spectrum of topological properties (knotting, linking, writhing, etc.) of randomly embedded circles in 3-space. This talk will discuss the proof and some generalizations of the Frisch-Wasserman-Delbruck conjecture: the longer a random circle, the more likely it is to be knotted. As application, we will consider the packing geometry of DNA in viral capsids. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. They pack their double-stranded DNA genomes to near-crystalline density in viral capsids and achieve one of the highest levels of DNA condensation found in nature. Despite numerous studies some essential properties of the packaging geometry of the DNA inside the phage capsid are still unknown. Although viral DNA is linear double-stranded with sticky ends, the linear viral DNA quickly becomes cyclic when removed from the capsid, and for some viral DNA the observed knot probability is an astounding 95%. This talk will discuss comparison of the observed viral knot spectrum with the simulated knot spectrum, concluding that the packing geometry of the DNA inside the capsid is non-random and writhe-directed. David Swigon (University of Pittsburgh) Part I: DNA topology and geometry/DNA elasticity Abstract: DNA topology and geometry Linking number, writhe, twist The theorem of Calugareanu and White, DNA supercoiling Methods for calculating and estimating writhe Surface linking number, linking number paradox DNA knots and catenanes, topoisomerases, recombination DNA elasticity Idealized elastic rod model, equilibrium configurations, supercoiling of rings, bifurcations Elastic rod models with intrinsic curvature, kinetoplast DNA Higher order continuum models, kinkable DNA Base-pair level models, sequence-dependence of DNA elasticity DNA looping, role of looping in transcription regulation Electrostatic effects David Swigon (University of Pittsburgh) Part II: DNA statistical mechanics/DNA dynamics Abstract: Worm-like chain model, ring closure, J factor Statistical mechanics of DNA supercoiling Monte Carlo simulations of DNA DNA stretching Extraction of sequence-dependent parameters from statistical ensembles DNA denaturation, effect of topological constraints, role in transcription regulation Probability of knotting and catenation, removal of knots/catenanes DNA dynamics Dynamics of supercoiling Kinetics of site juxtaposition DNA in microchannels and porous media Irwin Tobias (Rutgers University) A new twist step-parameter coupled to the chirality of the global structure of DNA Abstract: DNA twist step-parameters are in common use in the community of structural biologists. If, for a molecule with a closed axial curve, the writhing number, a measure of the chiral distortion of the axial curve of the molecule from planarity, is added to the sum over all steps of such twists, the result has no particular significance. This is in marked contrast to the properties of the value obtained . the topological invariant, an integer called the linking number - when the same writhe is added to the total twist we obtain by using step twists defined in a way consistent with the twist associated with supercoiling. Also of interest is the difference in the values of these two step-parameters for DNA in various environments. Thus, when the DNA is relaxed, and not interacting with any proteins, we find, and understand why, the two twists for each step are close in value. On the other hand, when the DNA is interacting with a protein, with the histones in chromatin, for example, there are certain steps for which one observes significant differences. By considering various model structures, we find instances in which we are able to relate the magnitude of an observed difference in twists for a particular step to the specific nature and chirality of the structural distortion being imposed by the protein on the DNA in the region of the step. Andrew Travers (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology) Chromatin compaction as a topological problem Abstract: In both bacteria and eukaryotes, maintaining DNA compaction is a sine qua non of chromatin function. At the same time accessibility to transcribing, replicating and recombining enzymes must be maintained. I will argue that these twin requirements can be viewed in the context of the overall topology of, for bacteria, the DNA itself, and of, for eukaryotes, the 30 nm chromatin fibre. In particular, the plectonemic form of supercoiled ropes, either DNA or 30 nm fibres, must, in principle, contain distinguishable structures (interwindings, apical loops, branch points, hammerheads) in contrast to a more monotonous toroid. In exponentially growing Escherichia coli the 2-start helical interwindings of the plectonemic form of plasmid DNA are stabilised by different nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs). Nucleation of binding of the NAP H-NS at high affinity sites results in gene silencing and plectoneme stabilisation. Plectonemes are also recognised by RNA polymerase and certain recombinases. The binding of RNA polymerase to loop structures formed at some promoters facilitates binding and for the tyrT promoter potentially locates the thermally unstable -10 hexamer adjacent to the interwindings of a negatively supercoiled plectoneme. In eukaryotes the requirement for DNA compaction is greater than in bacteria. Whereas a simple DNA plectoneme compacts DNA by ~~2.5 fold, compaction factors of up to 10000 are required in the eukaryotic nucleus. The initial mechanism for compacting DNA is the tight wrapping of ~146 bp in a nucleosome core particle, resulting in a compaction of ~9-10-fold. In vivo these particles can be accurately positioned such that the midpoint of the bound DNA is approximately defined. We have derived from accurately mapped in vivo positions in yeast a translational positioning signal that identifies the midpoint of histone octamer-bound DNA. The minimal signature is <60 bp in extent and need not be symmetric. It depends entirely on the intrinsic anisotropic bendability of DNA. We show both that this signal corresponds to the sequence organisation of cloned 'in vivo' octamer binding sequences and also that it correlates to within ±10 bp with >75% of reported and also our newly determined mapped positions in yeast. This putative positioning signal occurs on average once every ~60 bp in yeast genomic DNA sequences. From this apparent redundancy we infer that the preferred positioning of nucleosomes in an array requires an 'organiser' to select a nucleosome for nucleating an array. This organiser could be a strong intrinsic DNA positioning signal or a transcription factor. We present evidence that the DNA sequences specifying 5' proximal (-1 position) nucleosomes of several genes can, under more physiological conditions, outcompete in vitro the strong 601 positioning sequence originally selected by salt gradient dialysis in vitro. The next stage in the compaction of eukaryotic chromatin is the folding of a nucleosome array into a '30 nm' fibre. We have calculated the dependence of the diameter and packing density of chromatin fibres on linker length and conclude that all current measurements are consistent with a model in which at short linker lengths (corresponding to a nucleosome repeat length of ~ 177 bp) the linker histone can supercoil a 2-start crossed-linker fibre into a helical-ribbon form by changing the exit and entry trajectories of DNA. As the linker length increases in increments of 10 bp (< the 10.5 bp helical repeat of DNA) at a certain point the fibre relaxes into a crossed-linker form with a higher packing density. On this model the 30 nm fibre has a variable topology but maintains a constant packing of nucleosomes. References: Maurer, S., Fritz., J., Muskhelishvili, G. and Travers, A. RNA polymerase and an activator form discrete subcomplexes in a transcription initiation complex. EMBO J. 25, 3784-3790 (2006). Travers, A. and Muskhelishvili, G. A common topology for bacterial and eukaryotic transcription initiation? EMBO Rep. 8, 147-151 (2007). Bouffartigues, E., Buckle, M., Baudaut, C., Travers, A. and Rimsky, S. High affinity sites direct the cooperative binding of H-NS to a regulatory element required for transcriptional silencing. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 14, 441-448 (2007). Lang, B. et al. High affinity DNA binding sites for H-NS provide a molecular basis for selective silencing within proteobacterial genomes. Submitted for publication (2007). Wu, C., Bassett, A. and Travers, A. A variable topology for the '30 nm' chromatin fibre. Submitted for publication (2007). Collaborators: MRC-LMB, Cambridge: M. Madan Babu, Mark Churcher, Edwige Hiriart, Benjamin Lang, Chenyi Wu DAMTP, University of Cambridge: Graeme Mitchison ENS, Cachan: Cyril Baudaut, Emeline Bouffartigues, Malcolm Buckle, Sylvie Rimsky Università di Roma "La Sapienza": Eleonora Agricola, Micaela Caserta, Ernesto Di Mauro, Leonora Verdone Università di Camerino: Claudio Gualerzi, Cynthia Pon, Stefano Stella Jacobs University, Bremen: Claudia Burau, Nicolas Blot, Jurgen Fritz, Marcel Geertz, Sebastian Maurer, Ramesh Mavathur, Georgi Muskhelishvili Lawrence Varela (San Francisco State University) Developing computer software for detecting fluorescent chromosome labels Abstract: Organization of chromosomes in the living cell is believed to be a key factor in many biological processes such as gene expression, replication and repair. Furthermore this organization is severely disrupted during the progression of certain diseases such as cancer. Fluorescent labels are routinely used in the clinics for diagnosis and are increasingly used to study chromosome structure and nuclear architecture. However many of these studies are performed manually thus limiting our ability to perform high-throughput approaches. Here we propose a segmentation method for detecting fluorescent labels in fixed cells. Our image analysis algorithm follows a modified approach of image binarization, connected-component analysis, and statistical analysis. In the presence of reasonable noisy data, fuzzy image segments, our image analyzer detects DNA proximity and arrangement within the cell nucleus. Our image analysis tool provides an additional means for scientists to verify chromosome structure and nuclear architecture during various stages of cell duplication. Mariel Vazquez (San Francisco State University) The mathematics of site-specific recombination: 1. difference topology experiments and the Mu tranpososome; 2. DNA unlinking by XerCD/FtsK Abstract: DNA topology is the study of geometrical (supercoiling) and topological (knotting) properties of DNA loops and circular DNA molecules. Multiple cellular processes, such as DNA replication and transcription, affect the topology of DNA. Controlling these changes is key to ensuring stability inside the cell. Changes in DNA topology are mediated by enzymes such as topoisomerases and site-specific recombinases. We have successfully used techniques from knot theory and low-dimensional topology, aided by computational tools, to analyze the action of site-specific recombinases. I will introduce the tangle model and report on two recent analyses: 1. Based on the difference topology experimental results of Pathania, Jayaram, and Harshey (Cell, 2002), we solve 3-string tangle equations to understand the topological structure of DNA within the Mu transpososome. Pathania et al. (2002) proposed one 3-string tangle model for the Mu transpososome. We describe other families of solutions to the same tangle equations and we argue that the model given by Pathania et al. (2000) is the only biologically reasonable one. 2. The FtsK-XerCD system has been to successfully unlink complicated DNA catenanes produced by lambda Int and by DNA replication. We use tangles to argue that a stepwise unlinking by multiple recombination steps is the only plausible mechanism of action. Alexander Vologodskii (New York University) Breaking DNA double helix by bending stress Abstract: DNA double helix should experience local breaks under sufficient bending or/and unwinding torsional stress. Local distortions of DNA under negative torsional stress have been studied in details, but until now very little has been known about distortions by bending stress. We addressed this question in the current study by probing the structure of very small DNA circles. First, we developed an efficient method to obtain covalently closed DNA minicircles. To detect breaks of regular DNA structure in these minicircles we treated them by single strand-specific endonucleases. This method has been widely used to study local conformational changes in supercoiled plasmids for many years. We showed, in agreement with the previous data obtained on plasmid DNA, that sufficient torsional stress introduces DNA breaks in the minicircles. Choosing the experimental conditions where the influence of torsional stressed was minimized, we found that the double helix is broken by bending deformation in the minicircles of 64-65 bp, but not in the 85-86 bp minicircles. Our data suggest that two different single strand-specific endonucleases, used in the study, have different sensitivity to the breaks created by bending and torsional deformations. We speculate, using this observation, that torsional stress creates open regions in the double helix while strong DNA bending initiates formation of kinks, which preserves the base pairing. Annika Wedemeier (German Cancer Research Center) Modelling diffusional transport in the interphase cell nucleus Abstract: In recent years great progress has been made in the view of the living cell as a regulatory network in time. However, a quantitative description of the transport of biomolecules in the dense macromolecular network of chromatin fibers in the interphase cell nucleus is still missing. Furthermore, it is not yet clear to what extent macromolecular mobility is affected by structural components of the nucleus. This work contributes to the understanding of this process by developing a theoretical description of network diffusion in the interphase cell nucleus. To model the situation in the cell nucleus a lattice approach is used minimizing computational time and effort. Our model leads to a quantitative understanding of transport behaviour which is directly related to chromatin morphology. Changes of these characteristics are known to occur upon apoptosis or malignant transformations. The crowded environment of chromatin fibers in the nucleus is simulated by a simplified version of the bond fluctuation method originally desrcibed by Carmesin et al (Macromolecules 1988,21, p.2819) in combination with a Metropolis Monte Carlo procedure. This yields well equilibrated polymer chains satisfying static properties such as end-to-end distance. It is investigated how the diffusion coefficient of particles of a given size depends on the 3D geometry of the network of chromatin fibers and their density in the nucleus. We show that the diffusion cofficient is proportional to the volume fraction of the freely accessible space. Additionally, we investigate to what extent structural properties of the fibers, such as persistence length and contour length, influence the diffusion coefficient. We observe that neither the contour length nor the persistence length of the fibers affects the diffusional transport of small particles. Furthermore, we found that the translational diffusion of the mass centers of the chromatin fibers is anomalous. Guowei Wei (Michigan State University) Geometric flows on biological surfaces Abstract: Same abstract as the 9/19 talk. Guowei Wei (Michigan State University) Geometric flows on biological surfaces Abstract: Joint work with Peter Bates and Shan Zhao. We introduce a novel concept, the minimal molecular surface (MMS), as a new paradigm for the theoretical modeling of biomolecule-solvent interfaces. When a less polar macromolecule is immersed in a polar environment, the surface free energy minimization occurs naturally to stabilizes the system, and leads to an MMS separating the macromolecule from the solvent. For a given set of atomic constraints (as obstacles), the MMS is defined as one whose mean curvature vanishes away from the obstacles. Mean curvature flows are proposed to compute the MMS. Extensive examples are given to validate the proposed algorithm and illustrate the new concept. We show that the MMS provides an indication to DNA-binding specificity. The use of more general geometric flows, including flows driven by both intrinsic geometric forces and external forces, will also be discussed for biological modeling. We show that the proposed MMS is a special case of family of singularity free biomolecular surfaces. Shimon Weiss (University of California) Single molecule probing of dynamic conformation, molecular interactions and dynamic localizations in-vitro, in live cells and in organisms Abstract: We applied single molecule spectroscopy using alternating laser excitation (ALEX) to the study of transcription initiation by e-coli RNA polymerase. We find that the transcription factor sigma70 is not obligatorily released in the transition from initiation to elongation and that the mechanism for abortive initiation is governed by DNA scrunching. We also applied ALEX spectroscopy to the study the polymer properties of single-stranded DNA and double-stranded DNA, and to protein folding. We find that the collapsed state of protein L is not driven by native contacts, and we show that Acyl-CoA binding protein (ACBP) has a residual structure in the denatured state. Lastly, we demonstrate the use of peptide-coated quantum dots for the study of lipid rafts in live cells' membranes and for molecular imaging in living cells and small organisms. Jonathan Widom (Northwestern University) The genomic code for nucleosome positioning Abstract: Eukaryotic genomes are packaged into nucleosome particles that occlude the DNA from interacting with most DNA binding proteins. Nucleosomes are remarkable from a physical perspective because in each nucleosome, one persistence length of DNA – a lengthscale of DNA inflexibility – is wrapped in nearly two complete superhelical turns around a protein core. As a consequence of this extreme DNA bending, nucleosomes have higher affinity for particular DNA sequences that are best-able to sharply bend as required by the nucleosome. We discovered that genomes care where their nucleosomes are located on average, and that genomes manifest this care by encoding an additional layer of genetic information, superimposed on top of other kinds of regulatory and coding information that were previously recognized. We have developed a partial ability to read this nucleosome positioning code and predict the in vivo locations of nucleosomes. Our results suggest that genomes utilize the nucleosome positioning code to facilitate specific chromosome functions including to delineate functional versus nonfunctional binding sites for key gene regulatory proteins, and to define the next higher level of chromosome structure itself. Lynn Zechiedrich (Baylor College of Medicine) Supercoiled minicircle DNA to probe topoisomerase-DNA interactions Abstract: Joint work with Jonathan M. Fogg, Daniel J. Catanese, Jr., Department of Molecular Virology & Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA. DNA topoisomerases are essential enzymes that impact nearly every aspect of DNA metabolism by transiently breaking and passing DNA. Studies of topoisomerases, indeed any protein that acts on DNA, have been severely limited by the lack of experimentally tractable supercoiled DNA. We developed a method to produce milligram quantities of DNA minicircles (<500 bp) with defined supercoiling (Fogg et al. 2006 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter, 18, S145). With these physiologically relevant substrates, we have measured, for the first time, the influence of supercoiling on a type-2 topoisomerase. The importance of the development of supercoiled minicircles is obvious from initial data. Human topoisomerase IIα (hTopoIIα) binds linear, nicked and relaxed (ΔLk = 0) 339 bp minicircles with a KD ~ 100 pM, which agrees with the previous data for linear DNA. We have determined that hTopoIIα binds ΔLk = -1, -2, -4 and -6 minicircles ~ 100-fold more tightly, KD ~ 1 pM. There is no significant difference in binding over a wide range of negative supercoiling from ΔLk = -1 to ΔLk = -6. We have also studied hTopoIIα binding to positively supercoiled DNA. The KD ~ 1 pM for hTopoIIα binding to ΔLk = +2 and +3 was the same as that measured for ΔLk = -2. Although it is well-documented that type-2 enzymes preferentially relax (+) over (-) supercoiled DNA, this difference is not accounted for in binding. Therefore, the preference for (+) supercoils must be manifested in a later kinetic step. The koff for hTopoIIα from nicked, linear, or relaxed minicircle DNA was as fast as we could measure. The kon, calculated from koff and KD values, for all Lks was diffusion limited. However, the koff for ΔLk = -2 minicircle is at least 5,000-fold slower! The extraordinary differences in koff between ΔLk = 0 and ΔLk = -2 likely reflect key regulatory features of supercoiled DNA in cells as the ΔLk = -2 has the same supercoiling state as is isolated from cultures of logarithmically growing cells. Minicircle substrates provide a unique insight into the local DNA structure of supercoiled DNA and how this is recognized and manipulated by topoisomerases. Topoisomerases are major targets for anti-cancer and anti-bacterial drugs. An improved understanding of how these enzymes work may lead to rational structure-based approaches for the design of new treatments. This work was funded by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grant RO1 AI054830 (to LZ). DJC was funded by a training fellowship from the Keck Center Pharmacoinformatics Training Program of the Gulf Coast Consortia, NIH Grant T90 070109. JMF was funded by the Program in Mathematics and Molecular Biology. Guohui Zheng (Rutgers University) A DNA base-pair step parameter database Abstract: We present our DNA base-pair step parameter database, and its web interface. The DNA base-pair step parameter database is a relational database designed to gather double helical DNA base-pair step parameters, generated using the 3DNA software package [1], across multiple DNA-containing structures deposited in the Nucleic Acid Database (NDB) [2]. Although the NDB provides DNA base-pair step parameters for all structures that we include in our database, the NDB is structure specific, meaning that it provides information about individual structures. Our database is aimed to integrate nucleic acid information across multiple structures, collect data samples for a specific parameter or parameter set, and offer a basis for statistical inference of DNA mechanical properties. The database collects base-pair step parameters in different categories, such as resolution, presence or absence of ligands, and protein folding family. It also contains a subset of non-redundant protein-DNA complex structures, based on clustering the sequences and folds of the proteins complexed to DNA and the sequences of the bound DNA, with a resolution of 3.0 Angstrom or better. This non-redundant dataset provides a useful data pool for statistical inference, reducing bias from redundant structures. The latest version of the database, updated through June 2007, contains information from a total of 1389 DNA-containing crystal structures with 23036 base-pair steps. 1. Olson, W. K., Lu, X.-J., 3DNA: a software package for the analysis, rebuilding and visualization of three-dimensional nucleic acid structures. Nucleic Acids. Res., 2003. 31(17): 5108-5121. 2. Berman, H. M., Olson, W. K., Beveridge, D. L., Westbrook, J., Gelbin, A., Demeny, T., Hsieh, S.-H., Srinivasan, A. R., and Schneider, B., The Nucleic Acid Database: A Comprehensive Relational Victor B. Zhurkin (National Cancer Institute) A novel 'Kink-and-Slide' mechanism of DNA folding in chromatin. Implications for nucleosome positioning and p53-DNA binding Abstract: Despite 30 years of effort, it is still unclear how DNA sequence contributes to the known positioning of nucleosomes. Currently, there is a wide gap between the experimental characterization of positioned nucleosomes in solution and the interpretation of the known high-resolution X-ray structures of nucleosomal DNA. This gap in understanding stems, in our opinion, from the traditional use of a simplified elastic-rod model, in which only the DNA bending and twisting deformations are considered, and the effects of the shearing displacements of adjacent base pairs are neglected. In collaboration with Wilma Olson [1], we have demonstrated that these displacements play a much more important structural role than ever imagined. First, the lateral Slide deformations observed at sites of local anisotropic bending of DNA define its superhelical trajectory in chromatin. (Note that the nucleosomal DNA twisting remains close, on average, to that in solution [2]. In other words, the 'real' DNA wrapping around the histone core is inconsistent with the conventional model of superhelical DNA, which links changes in superhelical pitch to DNA twisting.) Second, the computed cost of deforming DNA on the nucleosome is sequence specific: in optimally positioned sequences the most easily deformed base-pair steps (CA:TG and TA) occur at sites of large positive Slide and negative Roll (where the DNA bends, or kinks, into the minor groove). Here, we incorporate all the degrees of freedom of 'real' DNA, thereby going beyond the limits of the conventional model - the latter ignores the lateral Slide displacements of base pairs, and as a result, fails to account for the preferable positioning of the TA steps. Indeed, only after lateral Slide displacements are considered, are we able to account for the sequence-specific positioning of nucleosomes in vitro. In addition to DNA folding in nucleosomes, the shearing deformations are implicated in the sequence-specific recognition of DNA by transcription factors, such as the tumor suppressor protein p53. The DNA bending, twisting and sliding observed in solution upon p53 binding [3] are entirely consistent with the 'Kink-and-Slide' conformation described above. Therefore, structural organization of a p53 binding site in chromatin can regulate its affinity to p53 - for example, exposure of the DNA site on nucleosomal surface (in appropriate orientation) would facilitate the p53 binding. We illustrate the functional importance of this concept by comparing the chromatin organization of two classes of p53 response elements: the high affinity p53 sites inducing cell cycle arrest, and the low affinity sites associated with apoptosis. Our results indicate that there is a complex interplay between the structural codes encrypted in eukaryotic genomes - one code for DNA packaging in chromatin, and the other code for DNA recognition by regulatory proteins. Rather than being mutually exclusive (as was assumed earlier), the two codes appear to be consistent with each other. At least in some cases, such as p53, the DNA wrapping in nucleosomes can facilitate binding of the transcription factor to its cognate sequence, provided that the latter is properly exposed in chromatin. [1] Tolstorukov M.Y., Colasanti A.V., McCandlish D., Olson W.K. and Zhurkin V.B. A Novel 'Roll-and-Slide' Mechanism of DNA Folding in Chromatin. Implications for Nucleosome Positioning. J. Mol. Biol. 2007, 371(3): 725-38. [2] Richmond T.J. and Davey C.A. The structure of DNA in the nucleosome core. Nature 423, 145-150, 2003 [3] Nagaich A.K., Zhurkin V.B., Durell S.R., Jernigan R.L., Appella E. and Harrington R.E. p53-induced DNA bending and twisting: p53 tetramer binds on the outer side of a DNA loop and increases DNA twisting. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96: 1875-1880, 1999.
Visitors in Residence
 Pranav Agarwal University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Tanuj Aggarwal University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Ramzi Alsallaq Florida State University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Douglas N. Arnold University of Minnesota 7/15/2001 - 6/30/2008 F. Javier Arsuaga San Francisco State University 9/3/2007 - 12/21/2007 Nathan Baker Washington University School of Medicine 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Daniel J. Bates University of Minnesota 9/1/2006 - 8/31/2008 Peter W. Bates Michigan State University 9/1/2007 - 12/31/2007 John Baxter University of Minnesota 8/1/2007 - 7/30/2009 Craig Benham University of California 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Meredith Betterton University of Colorado 9/17/2007 - 9/19/2007 Yermal Sujeet Bhat University of Minnesota 9/1/2006 - 8/31/2008 John Bida Mayo Clinic 9/16/2007 - 9/18/2007 Betul Bilgin University of Minnesota 9/21/2007 - 9/21/2007 Victor Bloomfield University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Erik Boczko Vanderbilt University 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Richard J. Braun University of Delaware 9/14/2007 - 9/17/2007 Michael Brimacombe New Jersey Medical School of UMDNJ 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Dorothy E. Buck Imperial College London 9/14/2007 - 9/23/2007 Gregory Buck Saint Anselm College 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Maria-Carme T. Calderer University of Minnesota 9/16/2007 - 9/21/2007 Hannah Callender Vanderbilt University 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2009 Larry Carson 3M 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Brandon Chabaud University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Shi-Jie Chen University of Missouri 9/3/2007 - 11/3/2007 Gregory S. Chirikjian Johns Hopkins University 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Bernard D. Coleman Rutgers University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Vincent Croquette École Normale Supérieure 9/15/2007 - 9/20/2007 John Crow University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Feng Cui National Institutes of Health 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Jeremy Curuksu Jacobs University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Luke Czapla Rutgers University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Isabel K. Darcy University of Iowa 9/1/2007 - 1/19/2008 Melanie DeVries University of Iowa 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Yuanan Diao University of North Carolina - Charlotte 9/19/2007 - 9/23/2007 Olivier Dubois University of Minnesota 9/3/2007 - 8/31/2009 Claus Ernst Western Kentucky University 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Marcia O. Fenley Florida State University 9/3/2007 - 9/22/2007 Laura Finzi Emory University 9/16/2007 - 9/21/2007 Efi Foufoula-Georgiou University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Andrew Gastineau University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Anant Godbole East Tennessee State University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Jack Goldfeather Carleton College 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Jason E. Gower University of Minnesota 9/1/2006 - 8/31/2008 Steve Harvey Georgia Institute of Technology 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Christine E. Heitsch Georgia Institute of Technology 9/4/2007 - 11/3/2007 Milena Hering University of Minnesota 9/1/2006 - 8/31/2008 Peter Hinow Vanderbilt University 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2009 Xia Hua Massachusetts Institute of Technology 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 E. Mckay Hyde Goldman, Sachs & Co. oHG 9/27/2007 - 9/29/2007 Richard D. James University of Minnesota 9/4/2007 - 6/30/2008 Makkuni Jayaram University of Texas 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Tiefeng Jiang University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 Dan Jung University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Jason D. Kahn University of Maryland 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 George Karypis University of Minnesota 9/16/2007 - 9/21/2007 Alex Kasman College of Charleston 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Christopher Kauffman University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Christine A Kelley Ohio State University 9/14/2007 - 9/18/2007 Soojeong Kim University of Iowa 8/30/2007 - 1/20/2008 Debra Knisley East Tennessee State University 8/17/2007 - 6/1/2008 Mark Kon Boston University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Christian Laing New York University 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Ham Ching Lam University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Jörg Langowski Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (Cancer Research)(DKFZ) 9/14/2007 - 9/20/2007 Richard Lavery Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Stephen D. Levene University of Texas at Dallas 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Anton Leykin University of Minnesota 8/16/2006 - 8/15/2008 David M.J. Lilley University of Dundee 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Sookkyung Lim University of Cincinnati 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Chun-Chi Lin National Taiwan Normal University 9/13/2007 - 9/21/2007 Maggie Linak University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Roger Lui Worcester Polytechnic Institute 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 Laura Lurati University of Minnesota 9/1/2006 - 8/31/2008 James Maher Mayo Clinic 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Jennifer Mann University of Texas 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Peter D. March Ohio State University 9/28/2007 - 9/28/2007 John F. Marko Northwestern University 9/15/2007 - 9/19/2007 Kyle McQuisten University of Iowa 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Katy Micek University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Ezra Miller University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 Willard Miller Jr. University of Minnesota 9/17/2007 - 9/17/2007 Kenneth C. Millett University of California 9/13/2007 - 10/17/2007 Hyeyoung Moon University of Iowa 9/14/2007 - 9/22/2007 Maria Giovanna Mora International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA/ISAS) 9/1/2007 - 12/31/2007 David Morrissey University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Tolkynay Myrzakul Kazakh National University 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Junalyn Navarra-Madsen Texas Woman's University 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Timothy Newman Arizona State University 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 Olalla Nieto Faza University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Benjamin Nill Freie Universität Berlin 9/30/2007 - 10/5/2007 Duane Nykamp University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 Isamu Ohnishi Hiroshima University 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Wilma K. Olson Rutgers University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 John Oprea Cleveland State University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Daniel Osei-Kuffuor University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Hans G. Othmer University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 Jinhae Park Purdue University 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Ariel Prunell Institut Jacques Monod 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Teresita Ramirez-Rosas University of California 9/14/2007 - 9/22/2007 Graham Randall Baylor College of Medicine 9/17/2007 - 9/20/2007 Huzefa Rangwala University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Eric Rawdon University of St. Thomas 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Dale Rolfsen University of British Columbia 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Luca Rondi University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Ioulia Rouzina University of Minnesota 9/16/2007 - 9/18/2007 George Rublein College of William and Mary 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Murti Salapaka University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Deena Schmidt University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2009 Tamara Schmidt-Hegge University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Hullas Sehcal University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 Chehrzad Shakiban University of Minnesota 9/1/2006 - 8/31/2008 Koya Shimokawa Saitama University 9/9/2007 - 9/22/2007 Sushmita Singh University of Minnesota 9/15/2007 - 9/15/2007 David Snyder Texas State University-San Marcos 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Andrzej Stasiak University of Lausanne 9/10/2007 - 9/22/2007 Andrew Stein University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2009 De Witt L. Sumners Florida State University 9/5/2007 - 9/26/2007 Vladimir Sverak University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 6/30/2008 David Swigon University of Pittsburgh 9/4/2007 - 12/14/2007 Irwin Tobias Rutgers University 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Andrew Travers MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Erkan Tüzel University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2009 Lawrence Varela San Francisco State University 9/16/2007 - 9/21/2007 Tanya Vassilevska Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory 9/14/2007 - 9/21/2007 Mariel Vazquez San Francisco State University 9/3/2007 - 12/21/2007 Alexander Vologodskii New York University 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Haiyan Wang Arizona State University 9/14/2007 - 9/19/2007 Zhian Wang University of Minnesota 9/1/2007 - 8/31/2009 Annika Wedemeier German Cancer Research Center 9/15/2007 - 10/14/2007 Guowei Wei Michigan State University 9/17/2007 - 9/20/2007 Shimon Weiss University of California 9/17/2007 - 9/19/2007 Jonathan Widom Northwestern University 9/16/2007 - 9/20/2007 Peng Wu Rockefeller University 9/15/2007 - 9/22/2007 Zhijun Wu Iowa State University 9/4/2007 - 6/1/2008 Yanji Xu Minnesota Supercomputing Institute 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Lynn Zechiedrich Baylor College of Medicine 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007 Hongchao Zhang University of Minnesota 9/1/2006 - 8/31/2008 Guohui Zheng Rutgers University 9/14/2007 - 9/22/2007 Victor B. Zhurkin National Cancer Institute 9/15/2007 - 9/21/2007
Legend: Postdoc or Industrial Postdoc Long-term Visitor

IMA Affiliates:
3M, Boeing, Carnegie Mellon University, Corning, ExxonMobil, Ford, General Electric, General Motors, Georgia Institute of Technology, Honeywell, IBM, Indiana University, Iowa State University, Johnson & Johnson, Kent State University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lockheed Martin, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Medtronic, Michigan State University, Michigan Technological University, Microsoft Research, Mississippi State University, Motorola, Northern Illinois University, Ohio State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Rice University, Rutgers University, Sandia National Laboratories, Schlumberger-Doll, Schlumberger-Doll Research, Seoul National University, Siemens, Telcordia, Texas A & M University, University of Chicago, University of Cincinnati, University of Delaware, University of Houston, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Iowa, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, University of Tennessee, University of Texas, University of Wisconsin, University of Wyoming, US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wayne State University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute