Hot phonon induced bond breaking: Application to the advance of a replicating fork in DNA

We have developed an algorithm for calculating the opening of base pairs in the double helix based on a modification of self-consistent phonon theory. The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental observation for both the fluctuational opening in the premelting regime and the critical behavior at the melting transition. We apply the algorithm to a localized structure, a model of the replicating fork, and find that the addition of two hot phonons added to local modes will lead to the separation of the last closed base pair and the advance of the fork. Several other combinations of hot phonons will also bring about separation and advance of the fork as needed in replication.