Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-4rdpn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-09T13:35:41.829Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The distribution on the shortest distance between random cuts on opposite strands of DNA

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2016

Samuel Litwin*
Affiliation:
The Institute for Cancer Research, Fox Chase, Philadelphia

Abstract

Experiments involving random enzymatic or radioactive multiple cutting of single strands in double stranded DNA will occasionally cut it at pairs of positions on opposite strands that are within about 12 base pairs. In this case the DNA may unravel and come apart. The distribution of closest opposing breaks as a function of λ, the incidence of breaks per unit length, is obtained and graphs of the probability of critical distances as functions of λ are plotted. It is shown that for very large λ the distance between closest opposite breaks is approximately exponential with parameter ½λ2.

Type
Short Communications
Copyright
Copyright © Applied Probability Trust 1974 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Bithell, J. F. (1969) A stochastic model for the breaking of molecular segments. J. Appl. Prob. 6, 5973.Google Scholar
[2] Litwin, S. (1969) The distribution of radioactive recovery in randomly cut and sedimented DNA. J. Appl. Prob. 6, 275284.Google Scholar
[3] Litwin, S., Shahn, E. and Kozinski, A. W. (1969) Interpretation of sucrose gradient sedimentation pattern of deoxyribonucleic acid fragments resulting from random breaks. J. Virol. 4, 2430.Google Scholar
[4] Miller, R. C. Jr. (1970) Early intracellular events in the replication of T4 bacteriophage deoxyribonucleic acid. VII. 32P suicide stabilization. J. Virol. 5, 533535.Google Scholar
[5] Miller, R. C. Jr., Kozinski, A. W. and Litwin, S. (1970) Molecular recombination in T4 bacteriophage deoxyribonucleic acid. III. Formation of long single strands during recombination. J. Virol. 5, 368380.Google Scholar