Control of DNA Replication by Anomalous Reaction-Diffusion Kinetics

Michel G. Gauthier and John Bechhoefer
Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 158104 – Published 16 April 2009

Abstract

We propose a simple model for the control of DNA replication in which the rate of initiation of replication origins is controlled by protein-DNA interactions. Analyzing recent data from Xenopus frog embryos, we find that the initiation rate is reaction limited until nearly the end of replication, when it becomes diffusion limited. Initiation of origins is suppressed when the diffusion-limited search time dominates. To fit the experimental data, we find that the interaction between DNA and the rate-limiting protein must be subdiffusive.

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  • Received 3 December 2008

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.158104

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Michel G. Gauthier and John Bechhoefer

  • Department of Physics, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5A 1S6, Canada

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Vol. 102, Iss. 15 — 17 April 2009

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