Force induced melting of the constrained DNA

TL;DR

This paper presents a simple model to analyze how applied force influences the melting behavior of constrained double-stranded DNA, revealing different phase transition characteristics depending on the type of force and constraints.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model that captures various force-induced transitions in constrained dsDNA, highlighting differences between shearing and unzipping transitions.

Findings

Melting temperature depends on end constraints.

Distinct phase boundary for shearing versus unzipping.

Force can induce melting through multiple transition pathways.

Abstract

We develop a simple model to study the effects of an applied force on the melting of a double stranded DNA (dsDNA). Using this model, we could study the stretching, unzipping, rupture and slippage like transition in a dsDNA. We show that in absence of an applied force, the melting temperature and the melting profile of dsDNA strongly depend on the constrained imposed on the ends of dsDNA. The nature of the phase boundary which separates the zipped and the open state for the shearing like transition is remarkably different than the DNA unzipping