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
Y. Taroyan 2009 ApJ 694 69
J. Harting et al 2008 EPL 83 30001
R. Lambiotte and M. Ausloos 2007 EPL 77 58002
R Sturgeon and R Wahlen 2002 Metrologia 39 08003
Richard F Katz et al 2005 New J. Phys. 7 37