Cohesive energy, stability, and structural transitions in polyelectrolyte bundles.
A lattice of uniformly charged, infinitesimally thin rods decorated with an ordered array of counterions exhibits anomalous behavior as the spacing between the rods is varied. In particular, the counterion lattice undergoes a sequence of structural shearing or "tilting," phase transformations as the spacing between the rods decreases. The potential implications of this behavior with respect to the packaging of biologically relevant polyelectrolytic molecules are commented upon.
Rudnick
Joseph
J
Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, Box 951547, Los Angeles, California 90095-1547, USA.
Jasnow
David
D
D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D007477:Ions; D015233:Models, Statistical
D004573:Electrolytes; D007477:Ions