Year: 2008
Type: article
Abstract: We generalize the Poland-Scheraga model to consider DNA denaturation in the presence of an external stretching force. We demonstrate the existence of a force-induced DNA denaturation transition and obtain the temperature-force phase diagram. The transition is determined by the loop exponent c, for which we find the new value c = 4 nu-1/2 such that the transition is second order with c = 1.85 < 2 in d = 3. We show that a finite stretching force F destabilizes DNA, corresponding to a lower melting temperature T(F), in agreement with single-molecule DNA stretching experiments.
Source: Physical Review Letters
Authors: Andreas Hanke, Martha G. Ochoa, Ralf Metzler
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1964805866