Thermal Denaturation of Fluctuating DNA Driven by Bending Entropy

J. Palmeri, M. Manghi, and N. Destainville
Phys. Rev. Lett. 99, 088103 – Published 24 August 2007

Abstract

A statistical model of homopolymer DNA, coupling internal base-pair states (unbroken or broken) and external thermal chain fluctuations, is exactly solved using transfer kernel techniques. The dependence on temperature and DNA length of the fraction of denaturation bubbles and their correlation length is deduced. The thermal denaturation transition emerges naturally when the chain fluctuations are integrated out and is driven by the difference in bending (entropy dominated) free energy between broken and unbroken segments. Conformational properties of DNA, such as persistence length and mean-square-radius, are also explicitly calculated, leading, e.g., to a coherent explanation for the experimentally observed thermal viscosity transition.

  • Figure
  • Received 20 March 2007

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.088103

©2007 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

J. Palmeri, M. Manghi, and N. Destainville

  • Laboratoire de Physique Théorique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, 31062 Toulouse, France

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Issue

Vol. 99, Iss. 8 — 24 August 2007

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