ISSN:
0006-3525
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Polymer and Materials Science
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Chemistry and Pharmacology
Notes:
The effect of solvent viscosity (ηs) and temperature (T) on the shape of the concentration dependence of the principal and total recoils in creep-recovery viscoelastometry experiments has been studied for T4 DNA solutions. The range of DNA concentration (c) was 2 - 40 μg/ml; glycerol, 70-80% v/v, sucrose, 60% v/v; NaCl, 5 mM - 1M; and T, 275 - 323 K. A linear proportionality between recoil and c was obtained at high ηs/T. At low ηs/T, the c-dependence was nonlinear, approaching saturation at higher c. At low c, the slope of both curves was the same. Transition between “linear” and “nonlinear” values occurred over a narrow range of ηs/T (a width of 1-5 K if ηs/T was changed by varying T). (ηs/T)tr, the midpoint of the transition, was independent of solvent properties other than viscosity. Also, (ηs/T)tr increased with c. For a given c, ηs/T values above this transitional value yield linear behavior; below this, nonlinear behavior. The ratio of linear to nonlinear recoil values is a linear function of c with Kc, the slope of this dependence, independent of ηs and T. A kinetic model for the observed nonlinearity of recoil with c is presented. It explains the independence of Kc on ηs and T. An attempt has been made to explain the linear-nonlinear transitions by comparison of τ1 and TR, the lifetime of the contact points of the polymer network in the de Gennes theory. The nonlinear values are consistent with a pseudogel that exists when τ1 〈 TR. At τ1 〉 TR, the DNA behavior is similar to that in dilute solutions (linear values). Thus, the condition for transition is τ1 = TR. However, some unsolved problems remain.
Additional Material:
9 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bip.360250210
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