ISSN:
1434-6036
Keywords:
PACS. 87.14.Gg DNA, RNA – 05.70.Jk Critical point phenomena – 05.70.Fh Phase transitions: general studies – 87.15.Aa Theory and modeling; computer simulation
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract: Recently Garel, Monthus and Orland [Europhys. Lett. 55, 132 (2001)] considered a model of DNA denaturation in which excluded volume effects within each strand are neglected, while mutual avoidance is included. Using an approximate scheme they found a first order denaturation. We show that a first order transition for this model follows from exact results for the statistics of two mutually avoiding random walks, whose reunion exponent is c 〉 2, both in two and three dimensions. Analytical estimates of c due to the interactions with other denaturated loops, as well as numerical calculations, indicate that the transition is even sharper than in models where excluded volume effects are fully incorporated. The probability distribution of distances between homologous base pairs decays as a power law at the transition.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2002-00270-2
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