Issue |
Europhys. Lett.
Volume 38, Number 3, April III 1997
|
|
---|---|---|
Page(s) | 237 - 242 | |
Section | Cross-disciplinary physics and related areas of science and technology | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i1997-00231-y | |
Published online | 01 September 2002 |
Direct determination of DNA twist-stretch coupling
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
Received:
17
December
1996
Accepted:
10
March
1997
The symmetries of the DNA double helix require a new term in its linear response to stress: the coupling between twist and stretch. Recent experiments with torsionally constrained single molecules give the first direct measurement of this important material parameter. We extract its value from a recent experiment of Strick et al. (Science, 271 (1996) 1835) and find agreement with an independent experimental estimate recently given by Marko. We also present a very simple microscopic theory predicting a value comparable to the one observed.
PACS: 87.15.-v – Molecular biophysics / 87.10.+e – General, theoretical, and mathematical biophysics (including logic of biosystems, quantum biology, and relevant aspects of thermodynamics, information theory, cybernetics, and bionics) / 87.15.By – Structure, bonding, conformation, configuration, and isomerism of biomolecules
© EDP Sciences, 1997
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