Randomly forced DNA

TL;DR

This paper investigates how random forces influence the unzipping process of double-stranded DNA, revealing significant differences in phase behavior compared to the non-random case.

Contribution

It introduces a model for DNA unzipping under random forces and characterizes the resulting phase diagram and bubble formation.

Findings

Ground state develops bubbles of various lengths with increasing randomness.

Unzipping phase diagram differs drastically from the pure, non-random case.

Random forces significantly alter DNA unzipping behavior.

Abstract

We study the effect of random forces on a double stranded DNA in unzipping the two strands, analogous to the problem of an adsorbed polymer under a random force. The ground state develops bubbles of various lengths as the random force fluctuation is increased. The unzipping phase diagram is shown to be drastically different from the pure case.