Abstract
We study the statistical mechanics of small DNA loops emphasizing the competition between elasticity, supercoiling, and denaturation. Motivated by recent experiments and atomistic molecular dynamics simulation, we propose a new coarse-grained phenomenological model of DNA. We extend the classical elastic rod models to include the possibility of denaturation and nonlinear twist elasticity. Using this coarse-grained model, we obtain a phase diagram in terms of fractional overtwist and loop size that can be used to rationalize a number of experimental results which have also been confirmed by atomistic simulations.
Translated title of the contribution | On the supercoiling and denaturation of DNA loops |
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Original language | English |
Article number | 238103 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Physical Review Letters |
Volume | 100 |
Issue number | 23 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 13 Jun 2008 |