TY - JOUR
T1 - Intermediate phase in DNA melting
AU - Neher, Richard A.
AU - Gerland, Ulrich
PY - 2006
Y1 - 2006
N2 - We predict a temperature-driven phase transition of DNA below the melting transition. The additional, intermediate phase exists for repetitive sequences, when the two strands have different lengths. In this phase, the excess bases of the longer strand are completely absorbed as bulge loops inside the helical region. When the temperature is lowered, the excess bases desorb into overhanging ends, resulting in a contour length change. This continuous transition is in many aspects analogous to Bose-Einstein condensation. When the sequence is weakly disordered, the contour length changes discontinuously with temperature.
AB - We predict a temperature-driven phase transition of DNA below the melting transition. The additional, intermediate phase exists for repetitive sequences, when the two strands have different lengths. In this phase, the excess bases of the longer strand are completely absorbed as bulge loops inside the helical region. When the temperature is lowered, the excess bases desorb into overhanging ends, resulting in a contour length change. This continuous transition is in many aspects analogous to Bose-Einstein condensation. When the sequence is weakly disordered, the contour length changes discontinuously with temperature.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33645236569&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1103/PhysRevE.73.030902
DO - 10.1103/PhysRevE.73.030902
M3 - Article
C2 - 16605493
AN - SCOPUS:33645236569
SN - 1539-3755
VL - 73
JO - Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
JF - Physical Review E - Statistical Physics, Plasmas, Fluids, and Related Interdisciplinary Topics
IS - 3
M1 - 030902
ER -