Molecular elasticity and the geometric phase

Phys Rev Lett. 2003 Mar 7;90(9):098305. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.098305. Epub 2003 Mar 6.

Abstract

We present a method for solving the wormlike-chain (WLC) model for twisting semiflexible polymers to any desired accuracy. We show that the WLC free energy is a periodic function of the applied twist with period 4pi. We develop an analogy between WLC elasticity and the geometric phase of a spin-1 / 2 system. These analogies are used to predict elastic properties of twist-storing polymers. We graphically display the elastic response of a single molecule to an applied torque. This study is relevant to mechanical properties of biopolymers such as DNA.

MeSH terms

  • Biopolymers / chemistry*
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • Elasticity
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Nucleic Acid Conformation
  • Stress, Mechanical

Substances

  • Biopolymers
  • DNA