title: Tension dynamics and viscoelasticity of extensible wormlike chains.
abstract: The dynamic response of prestressed semiflexible biopolymers is characterized by the propagation and relaxation of tension, which arises due to the near inextensibility of a stiff backbone. It is coupled to the dynamics of contour length stored in thermal undulations but also to the local relaxation of elongational strain. We present a systematic theory of tension dynamics for stiff yet extensible wormlike chains. Our results show that even moderate prestress gives rise to distinct Rouse-like extensibility signatures in the high-frequency viscoelastic response.
authors.affiliation: Arnold Sommerfeld Center and Center for NanoScience, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Theresienstr 37, 80333 München, Germany.
authors.forename: Benedikt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Obermayer
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frey
mesh_terms: D001704:Biopolymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D004548:Elasticity; D008958:Models, Molecular; D014783:Viscosity
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers