dorsal/arxiv
View SchemaStatistical mechanics of columnar DNA assemblies
| Authors | A. Wynveen, D. J. Lee, A. A. Kornyshev |
|---|---|
| Categories | |
| ArXiv ID | physics/0408063 |
| URL | https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0408063 |
| DOI | 10.1140/epje/i2004-10087-y |
Abstract
Many physical systems can be mapped onto solved or "solvable" models of magnetism. In this work, we have mapped the statistical mechanics of columnar phases of ideally helical rigid DNA -- subject to the earlier found unusual, frustrated pair potential [A. A. Kornyshev and S. Leikin, J. Chem. Phys. 107, 3656 (1997)] -- onto an exotic, unknown variant of the XY model on a fixed or restructurable lattice. Here the role of the 'spin' is played by the azimuthal orientation of the molecules. We have solved this model using a Hartree-Fock approximation, ground state calculations, and finite temperature Monte Carlo simulations. We have found peculiar spin order transitions, which may also be accompanied by positional restructuring, from hexagonal to rhombohedric lattices. Some of these have been experimentally observed in dense columnar aggregates. Note that DNA columnar phases are of great interest in biophysical research, not only because they are a useful in vitro tool for the study of DNA condensation, but also since these structures have been detected in living matter. Within the approximations made, our study provides insight into the statistical mechanics of these systems.
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"abstract": "Many physical systems can be mapped onto solved or \"solvable\" models of\nmagnetism. In this work, we have mapped the statistical mechanics of columnar\nphases of ideally helical rigid DNA -- subject to the earlier found unusual,\nfrustrated pair potential [A. A. Kornyshev and S. Leikin, J. Chem. Phys. 107,\n3656 (1997)] -- onto an exotic, unknown variant of the XY model on a fixed or\nrestructurable lattice. Here the role of the \u0027spin\u0027 is played by the azimuthal\norientation of the molecules. We have solved this model using a Hartree-Fock\napproximation, ground state calculations, and finite temperature Monte Carlo\nsimulations. We have found peculiar spin order transitions, which may also be\naccompanied by positional restructuring, from hexagonal to rhombohedric\nlattices. Some of these have been experimentally observed in dense columnar\naggregates. Note that DNA columnar phases are of great interest in biophysical\nresearch, not only because they are a useful in vitro tool for the study of DNA\ncondensation, but also since these structures have been detected in living\nmatter. Within the approximations made, our study provides insight into the\nstatistical mechanics of these systems.",
"arxiv_id": "physics/0408063",
"authors": [
"A. Wynveen",
"D. J. Lee",
"A. A. Kornyshev"
],
"categories": [
"physics.bio-ph"
],
"doi": "10.1140/epje/i2004-10087-y",
"title": "Statistical mechanics of columnar DNA assemblies",
"url": "https://arxiv.org/abs/physics/0408063"
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