Comments on "Remeasuring the Double Helix"

TL;DR

This paper critiques a previous study on DNA stretching fluctuations, arguing that its conclusions are based on incorrect assumptions about the effects of reporter labels and are not supported by other data.

Contribution

It provides a critical re-evaluation of prior experimental claims regarding DNA flexibility, highlighting the importance of proper modeling of reporter label effects.

Findings

The original conclusion about correlated stretching fluctuations is unsupported.

Incorrect assumptions about reporter labels can lead to misleading results.

Other data do not support the claim of strong correlation in DNA stretching.

Abstract

Mathew-Fenn et al. (Science (2008) 322, 446-9) measured end-to-end distances of short DNA and concluded that stretching fluctuations in several consecutive turns of the double helix should be strongly correlated. I argue that this conclusion is based on incorrect assumptions, notably, on a simplistic treatment of the excluded volume effect of reporter labels. Contrary to the author's claim, their conclusion is not supported by other data.