Energetic funnel facilitates facilitated diffusion

It has been established that transcription factors find their target on DNA by facilitated diffusion, i.e. by alternating 3D diffusion and 1D random walk along the DNA. This implies that the genetic context, i.e. the DNA energy landscape around a specific target finding can play an important role for the transcription factor kinetics. By analyzing DNA sequences from E.Coli, I will show how genetic context can be used to speed-up target search. Predictions are tested by an extensive computational study of a stochastic model of protein sliding events. I will conclude by discussing possible evolutionary implications of this finding.