Many proteins select special DNA sequences to form functional complexes. In one possible mechanism, protein molecules would scan DNA sequences by tracking a groove without complete dissociation. Upon dragging single molecules of DNA over a surface carrying fixed Escherichia coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme, we detected rotation of individual DNA molecules, providing direct evidence that a DNA-binding protein can track a DNA groove. These results confirm our previous observations of longitudinal movement of RNA polymerase along fixed, extended DNA and, moreover, imply that groove tracking facilitates scanning of DNA sequences.
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