Orientational correlations in confined DNA

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the orientation and extension of DNA confined in nanochannels depend on the channel diameter, using simulations, mean-field theory, and experiments, revealing local correlations' role in DNA conformation.

Contribution

It introduces a mean-field theory for DNA conformations in nanochannels where Flory-de Gennes theory fails, supported by simulations and experiments.

Findings

Local correlations influence DNA end-to-end distance.

Qualitative agreement between experiments and theory.

Tapered nanochannels enable detailed D-dependent studies.

Abstract

We study how the orientational correlations of DNA confined to nanochannels depend on the channel diameter D by means of Monte Carlo simulations and a mean-field theory. This theory describes DNA conformations in the experimentally relevant regime where the Flory-de Gennes theory does not apply. We show how local correlations determine the dependence of the end-to-end distance of the DNA molecule upon D. Tapered nanochannels provide the necessary resolution in D to study experimentally how the extension of confined DNA molecules depends upon D. Our experimental and theoretical results are in qualitative agreement.