SMC complexes can traverse physical roadblocks bigger than their ring size

Ring-shaped structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) complexes like condensin and cohesin extrude loops of DNA. It remains, however, unclear how they can extrude DNA loops in chromatin that is bound with proteins. Here, we use in vitro single-molecule visualization to show that nucleosomes, RNA polymerase, and dCas9 pose virtually no...

Mechanisms for Chromosome Segregation in Bacteria

The process of DNA segregation, the redistribution of newly replicated genomic material to daughter cells, is a crucial step in the life cycle of all living systems. Here, we review DNA segregation in bacteria which evolved a variety of mechanisms for partitioning newly replicated DNA. Bacterial species such as Caulobacter crescentus and...

A Mechanically Tunable Quantum Dot in a Graphene Break Junction

Graphene quantum dots (QDs) are intensively studied as platforms for the next generation of quantum electronic devices. Fine tuning of the transport properties in monolayer graphene QDs, in particular with respect to the independent modulation of the tunnel barrier transparencies, remains challenging and is typically addressed using...

A Platform for Mechano(-Electrical) Characterization of Free-Standing Micron-Sized Structures and Interconnects

A device for studying the mechanical and electrical behavior of free-standing micro-fabricated metal structures, subjected to a very large deformation, is presented in this paper. The free-standing structures are intended to serve as interconnects in high-density, highly stretchable electronic circuits. For an easy, damage-free handling and...

Ultra-Stretchable Interconnects for High-Density Stretchable Electronics

The exciting field of stretchable electronics (SE) promises numerous novel applications, particularly in-body and medical diagnostics devices. However, future advanced SE miniature devices will require high-density, extremely stretchable interconnects with micron-scale footprints, which calls for proven standardized (complementary metal-oxide...

Chemical vapour infiltration of TiB2 and TiN in porous Al2O3