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A stochastic model of fragment formation when DNA replicates

Part of: Special processes Physiological, cellular and medical topics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 July 2016

Richard Cowan  and
S. N. Chiu
Richard Cowan*
Affiliation:
University of Hong Kong
S. N. Chiu*
Affiliation:
University of Hong Kong
*
∗ Postal address: Department of Statistics, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong.
∗∗ Present address: Fachbereich Mathematik, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Bernhard-von-Cotta-str. 2. 09596 Freiberg, Germany.
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Abstract

The double-stranded molecule, DNA, has the unique property of replication and, because of this, it is the central molecule of life. The mechanism of replication for each single strand is intricate, involving enzymes which move along each of the single strands building a complementary copy. At the frontier of this action, the events have a strong stochastic character due to the random location on the DNA of key ‘sites' where copying commences. A model of this process is analysed. The central problem of interest is the mean length of certain ‘islands' of newly replicated DNA developed at the randomly located ‘sites'. These islands, which have been observed experimentally, are called Okazaki fragments.

Keywords

DNA REPLICATIONRENEWAL EQUATIONOKAZAKI FRAGMENT

MSC classification

Primary: 92C40: Biochemistry, molecular biology
Secondary: 92C45: Kinetics in biochemical problems (pharmacokinetics, enzyme kinetics, etc.) 92D20: Protein sequences, DNA sequences 60K40: Other physical applications of random processes
Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Applied Probability , Volume 31 , Issue 2 , June 1994 , pp. 301 - 308
Copyright
Copyright © Applied Probability Trust 1994 

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References

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