DNA stretch during electrophoresis due to a step change in mobility.
We investigate DNA stretching during electrophoresis when the mobility abruptly changes. This is a simplified geometry that produces a nonhomogeneous strain rate over the scale of a single molecule. An effective Weissenberg number (Wi) and Deborah number were identified, and the degree of stretching was examined as a function of these two parameters. The system does not undergo a coil-stretch transition. The finite extensibility of the chains only affects the response if the chain is stretched to a significant fraction of the contour length. The wormlike chain shows a characteristic approach to full extension of Wi(-1/2).
Underhill
Patrick T
PT
Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
Doyle
Patrick S
PS
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004548:Elasticity / Q000528:radiation effects; D004586:Electrophoresis / Q000379:methods*; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009038:Motion; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation / Q000528:radiation effects; D013314:Stress, Mechanical
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D004247:DNA