Optical tweezers have become the method of choice in single-molecule manipulation
studies. In this Primer, we first review the physical principles of optical tweezers and the …

The journey of RNA polymerase II (Pol II) as it transcribes a gene is anything but a smooth
ride. Transcript elongation is discontinuous and can be perturbed by intrinsic regulatory …

In prokaryotes, translation can occur on mRNA that is being transcribed in a process called
coupling. How the ribosome affects the RNA polymerase (RNAP) during coupling is not well …

Since their invention just over 20 years ago, optical traps have emerged as a powerful tool
with broad-reaching applications in biology and physics. Capabilities have evolved from …

During transcription, RNA polymerase (RNAP) moves processively along a DNA template,
creating a complementary RNA. Here we present the development of an ultra-stable optical …

We imaged transcription in living cells using a locus-specific reporter system, which allowed
precise, single-cell kinetic measurements of promoter binding, initiation and elongation …

In cells, RNA polymerase (RNAP) must transcribe supercoiled DNA, whose torsional state is
constantly changing, but how RNAP deals with DNA supercoiling remains elusive. We report …

I review single-molecule experiments (SMEs) in biological physics. Recent technological
developments have provided the tools to design and build scientific instruments of high …

Many biologically important macromolecules undergo motions that are essential to their
function. Biophysical techniques can now resolve the motions of single molecules down to …

Using single-molecule DNA nanomanipulation, we show that abortive initiation involves
DNA “scrunching”—in which RNA polymerase (RNAP) remains stationary and unwinds and …