Noise Activated Fast Locomotion of DNA through Frictional Landscape of Nanoporous Gel

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that external noise can significantly enhance DNA mobility in nanoporous gels during electrophoresis by overcoming frictional barriers, with potential broader implications for molecular and macroscopic movement.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of noise-induced facilitation of DNA motion through frictional landscapes, supported by stochastic simulations and kinetic analysis.

Findings

DNA mobility increases by over 113% with noise.

High noise levels induce Arrhenius kinetics in DNA motion.

Low noise levels show super Arrhenius kinetics indicating collective behavior.

Abstract

It is hypothesized that nonlinear solid friction between the gel matrix and DNA molecules inhibits the motion of DNA through the nanopores of the gel during electrophoresis. In this article, it is demonstrated that external noise can alleviate the effect of solid friction, thus enhancing the mobility of DNA in an electrophoretic setting. In the presence of noise, the mobility of DNA increases by more than ~113 % compared to conventional electrophoresis. Although at a high power of noise, DNA exhibits Arrhenius kinetics, at a low power of noise, super Arrhenius kinetics suggest the collective behavior of the activated motion of DNA molecules. Stochastic simulation following modified Langevin dynamics with the asymmetric pore size distribution of the agarose gel successfully predicts the mobility of DNA molecules and reveals the salient features of the overall dynamics. This 'noise lubricity' may have broader applicability from molecular to macroscopic locomotion.