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A bead and spring model for the stiffness of DNA
Author(s) -
De La Torre J. García,
Freire Juan J.,
Horta Arturo
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
biopolymers
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1097-0282
pISSN - 0006-3525
DOI - 10.1002/bip.1975.360140703
Subject(s) - rigidity (electromagnetism) , stiffness , spring (device) , chain (unit) , excluded volume , bead , chemistry , dna , statistical model , mechanics , physics , thermodynamics , composite material , statistics , materials science , mathematics , polymer , biochemistry , organic chemistry , astronomy
The chain stiffness of linear native DNA is represented by a generalized bead and spring model recently proposed. It incorporates molecular rigidity by means of springs between beads, which are second neighbors along the contour of the chain. These springs are equivalent to elastic forces having longitudinal and transversal contributions. The model is compared with existing experimental data of sedimentation and low‐angle light scattering to obtain the statistical parameters of DNA. The value of the statistical length obtained with this model is 1300 Å. The same value is obtained with the wormlike chain. Throughout this analysis, excluded volume is left out as a simplifying assumption.