H. Wada and R. R. Netz 2007 EPL 77 68001 doi:10.1209/0295-5075/77/68001
H. Wada and R. R. Netz
Show affiliationsUsing dynamic simulations and analytic methods, we study the elastic response of a helical filament subject to uniaxial tension over a wide range of bend and twist persistence length. A low-pitch helix at low temperatures exhibits a stretching instability and the force-extension curve consists of a sequence of spikes. At elevated temperature (i.e. small persistence lengths) the helix melts and a pronounced force plateau is obtained in the fixed-extension ensemble. The torque boundary condition significantly affects the resulting elastic properties.
87.15.-v Biomolecules: structure and physical properties
Issue 6 (March 2007)
Received 5 December 2006, in final form 25 January 2007
Published 27 February 2007
H. Wada and R. R. Netz 2007 EPL 77 68001
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