Show Notes
This release contains only the music track from Base by Base Episode 376.
Song title: Slide Back, Strike Again
Original Base by Base episode: 376: Pfh1's Balancing Act: Unwinding, Rewinding, and the Role of Mitochondrial SSB
Article metadata:
Article title: Regulation of Pfh1 helicase activity by nucleic acid interactions and mitochondrial SSB
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2602528123
Reference: Ortiz-Rodríguez M, Singh SP, Cao-García FJ, Galletto R, Ibarra B. Regulation of Pfh1 helicase activity by nucleic acid interactions and mitochondrial SSB. PNAS. 2026;123(21):e2602528123. doi:10.1073/pnas.2602528123
Lyrics:
Verse 1
Under cold light, the bright screen glows
A tiny motor starts and stops in rows
It pulls the fork like a secret thread
Unwind a little, then rewind instead
Like it remembers what it just said
Pre-Chorus
ATP in the pocket, spark in the night
Burst, recover, then lock in tight
Two strands held, but the run stays small
Twenty-two steps, then the same recall
A forward rush with a built-in wall
Chorus
Unwind—rewind, a restless song
Push the edge, but not for long
Slide back, strike again, keep time
Not switching lanes—just climbing the line
Held by the fork where the forces align
Verse 2
Speed climbs higher when the fuel runs clean
Till the max hits hard on the trace we’ve seen
But the displaced strand can bite like a chain
Slowing the work, adding hidden strain
Then a binding hand breaks the brake in the lane
Bridge
Single-strand guardian, taking the loose
Catching the flap so the grip won’t bruise
Shorter the waiting, faster the flare
Higher the Vmax through open air
Same looping dance, but clearer, fair
Final Chorus
Unwind—rewind, hear the steady drive
Fork-lit rhythm keeps hope alive
Slide back, strike again, don’t freeze
A measured sprint through repeating seas
Small steps forward, but stronger keys
