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Looped star polymers show conformational transition from spherical to flat toroidal shapes

Inspired by the topological organization of the circular Escherichia coli chromosome, which is compacted by separate domains, we study a polymer architecture consisting of a central ring to which either looped or linear side chains are grafted. A shape change from a spherical to a toroidal organizat...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Reiss, Pascal (Author) , Fritsche, Miriam (Author) , Heermann, Dieter W. (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 16 November 2011
In: Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Year: 2011, Volume: 84, Issue: 5, Pages: 1-5
ISSN:1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.84.051910
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.051910
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevE.84.051910
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Author Notes:Pascal Reiss, Miriam Fritsche, and Dieter W. Heermann
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Summary:Inspired by the topological organization of the circular Escherichia coli chromosome, which is compacted by separate domains, we study a polymer architecture consisting of a central ring to which either looped or linear side chains are grafted. A shape change from a spherical to a toroidal organization takes place as soon as the inner ring becomes large enough for the attached arms to fit within its circumference. Building up a torus, the system flattens, depending on the effective bending rigidity of the chain induced by entropic repulsion of the attached loops and, to a lesser extent, linear arms. Our results suggest that the natural formation of a toroidal structure with a decreased amount of writhe induced by a specific underlying topology could be one driving force, among others, that nature exploits to ensure proper packaging of the genetic material within a rod-shaped, bacterial envelope.
Item Description:Gesehen am 14.09.2022
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1550-2376
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevE.84.051910

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