Abstract
The stretching response of a single collapsed homopolymer is studied using Brownian dynamic simulations. The irreversibly dissipated work is found to be dominated by internal friction effects below the collapse temperature, and the internal viscosity grows exponentially with the effective cohesive strength between monomers. These results explain friction effects of globular DNA and are relevant for dissipation at intermediate stages of protein folding.
- Received 26 October 2007
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.028102
©2009 American Physical Society