Effect of external stress on the thermal melting of DNA.
We discuss the effects of external stress on the thermal denaturation of homogeneous DNA. Pulling double-stranded DNA at each end exerts a profound effect on the thermal denaturation, or melting, of a long segment of this molecule. We discuss the effects on this transition of a stretching force applied to opposite ends of the DNA, including full consideration of the consequences of excluded volume, the analysis of which is greatly simplified in this case. We find that in three dimensions the heat capacity acquires a logarithmic dependence on reduced temperature.
Rudnick
Joseph
J
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
Kuriabova
Tatiana
T
D003198:Computer Simulation; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004548:Elasticity; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D044366:Transition Temperature
D004247:DNA