title: Protein viscoelastic dynamics: a model system.
abstract: A model system inspired by recent experiments on the dynamics of a folded protein under the influence of a sinusoidal force is investigated and found to replicate many of the response characteristics of such a system. The essence of the model is a strongly overdamped oscillator described by a harmonic restoring force for small displacements that reversibly yields to stress under sufficiently large displacement. This simple dynamical system also reveals unexpectedly rich behavior-exhibiting a series of dynamical transitions and analogies with equilibrium thermodynamic phase transitions. The effects of noise and of inertia are briefly considered and described.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, Box 951547, Los Angeles, California 90095-1547, USA.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fogle
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, Box 951547, Los Angeles, California 90095-1547, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rudnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jasnow
mesh_terms: D004548:Elasticity; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014783:Viscosity