Dynamic phase transition in the conversion of B-DNA to Z-DNA

TL;DR

This paper investigates the long-term dynamics of B-DNA to Z-DNA transition, revealing a dynamic phase transition that explains the complex behavior of the conformational change and resolves existing controversies.

Contribution

It introduces a dynamic phase diagram for the B-Z DNA transition and explains the mechanism behind the formation of split fronts and denatured states.

Findings

Identification of a dynamic phase transition in B-DNA to Z-DNA conversion.

Discovery of split fronts moving at different velocities.

Explanation of how denatured states can develop dynamically despite thermodynamic constraints.

Abstract

The long time dynamics of the conformational transition from B-DNA to Z-DNA is shown to undergo a dynamic phase transition. We obtained the dynamic phase diagram for the stability of the front separating B and Z. The instability in this front results in two split fronts moving with different velocities. Hence, depending on the system parameters a denatured state may develop dynamically eventhough it is thermodynamically forbidden. This resolves the current controversies on the transition mechanism of the B-DNA to Z-DNA.