Phase coexistence in a single DNA molecule
Publication Type:
Journal ArticleSource:
PHYSICA A, ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV, Volume 263, Number 1-4, PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, p.392-404 (1999)Keywords:
ELASTICITY; MECHANICS; NUCLEIC-ACIDS; PROTEIN; SUPERCOILED DNA; TRANSITIONSAbstract:
A DNA molecule subjected to stretching or torsional stress can undergo cooperative phase transitions to new structures. For a supercoiled molecule, these structures coexist with canonical Watson-Crick B-DNA over a large range of forces and degrees of coiling. We will describe these stress-induced transitions and discuss the new structures and their possible biological relevance.