title: Multiplectoneme phase of double-stranded DNA under torsion.
abstract: We use the wormlike chain model to study supercoiling of DNA under tension and torque. The model reproduces experimental data for a broad range of forces, salt concentrations, and contour lengths. We find a plane of first-order phase transitions ending in a smeared-out line of critical points, the multiplectoneme phase, which is characterized by a fast twist-mediated diffusion of plectonemes and a torque that rises after plectoneme formation with increasing linking number. The discovery of this phase at the same time resolves the discrepancies between existing models and experiment.
authors.affiliation: Instituut Lorentz voor de Theoretische Natuurkunde, Universiteit Leiden, P. O. Box 9506, NL-2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands and Institute of Complex Systems II, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany and Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emanuel
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lanzani
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schiessel
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D008958:Models, Molecular; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D013696:Temperature; D019415:Torque
chemical_list: D004278:DNA, Superhelical