title: Highly stretched single polymers: atomic-force-microscope experiments versus ab-initio theory.
abstract: Experimental single-molecule stretching curves for three backbone architectures (single-stranded DNA, various types of peptides, polyvinylamine) are quantitatively compared with corresponding quantum-chemical (zero-temperature) ab-initio calculations in the high-force range of up to two nanonewtons. For high forces, quantitative agreement is obtained with the contour length of the polymers as the only fitting parameter. For smaller forces, the effects of chain fluctuations are accounted for by using recent theoretical results for the stretching response of a freely-rotating-chain model.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanoscience, LMU München, Geschwister-Scholl Platz 1, 80799 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Thorsten
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hugel
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rief
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seitz
authors.forename: Hermann E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Gaub
authors.forename: Roland R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Netz
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D011108:Polymers; D011145:Polyvinyls; C008996:poly(vinylamine); D004247:DNA