Binomial distribution for quantification of protein subunits in biological Nanoassemblies and functional nanomachines

Phi29 dsDNA packaging motor is composed of three co-axial rings: a connector dodecamer, a pRNA hexamer and an ATPase hexamer (left). The phi29 motor is used as a model to elucidate the application of the formula ∑M=0ZZMpZ−MqM to determine the subunit copy numbers on the basis of the principles of Yang Hui Triangle/Pascal's Triangle (right). In this equation, p and q are the percentage of wild-type and inactive mutant in the empirical assay; M is the copy numbers of mutant and Z is the stoichiometry in question.456