Jiang, LiliPrentiss, Mara2019-10-032014Jiang, Lili, and Mara Prentiss. 2014. “RecA-Mediated Sequence Homology Recognition as an Example of How Searching Speed in Self-Assembly Systems Can Be Optimized by Balancing Entropic and Enthalpic Barriers.” Physical Review E 90 (2). https://doi.org/10.1103/physreve.90.022704.1539-37551550-2376http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:41461288Ideally, self-assembly should rapidly and efficiently produce stable correctly assembled structures. We study the tradeoff between enthalpic and entropic cost in self-assembling systems using RecA-mediated homology search as an example. Earlier work suggested that RecA searches could produce stable final structures with high stringency using a slow testing process that follows an initial rapid search of similar to 9-15 bases. In this work, we will show that as a result of entropic and enthalpic barriers, simultaneously testing all similar to 9-15 bases as separate individual units results in a longer overall searching time than testing them in groups and stages.en-USJournal Article2019-10-0310.1103/PhysRevE.90.022704