title: Forced Kramers escape in single-molecule pulling experiments.
abstract: The pulling-induced rupture of noncovalent bonds is studied by the overdamped Kramers theory with full account of a time-varying barrier. Mechanic pulling reduces the energy barrier and leads to loading-rate dependence of the rupture force F(u)(F(t)). Tested against Langevin dynamics, four distinct regimes are identified, including kinetic dominant, weak pulling, strong pulling, and mechanic pulling dominant. Asymptotic analyses show that F(u) approximately ln F(t) in weak pulling regime and becomes 1-(F(u)F(c)) approximately [ln(F(t))E(b)](23) in strong pulling regime. Kinetic informations such as activation energy E(b) and critical force F(c) were extracted from pulling experiments for biotin-streptavidin complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Jane
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Shaoyi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Heng-Kwong
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Tsao
mesh_terms: D001710:Biotin / Q000737:chemistry; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008024:Ligands; D015233:Models, Statistical; D019809:Streptavidin / Q000737:chemistry; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D008024:Ligands; D001710:Biotin; D019809:Streptavidin