Probing the Mechanical Unzipping of DNA

N. K. Voulgarakis, A. Redondo, A. R. Bishop, and K. Ø. Rasmussen
Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 248101 – Published 21 June 2006

Abstract

A study of the micromechanical unzipping of DNA in the framework of the Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois model is presented. We introduce a Monte Carlo technique that allows accurate determination of the dependence of the unzipping forces on unzipping speed and temperature. Our findings agree quantitatively with experimental results for homogeneous DNA, and for λ-phage DNA we reproduce the recently obtained experimental force-temperature phase diagram. Finally, we argue that there may be fundamental differences between in vivo and in vitro DNA unzipping.

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  • Received 20 December 2005

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.96.248101

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

N. K. Voulgarakis, A. Redondo, A. R. Bishop, and K. Ø. Rasmussen

  • Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA

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Issue

Vol. 96, Iss. 24 — 23 June 2006

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