Abstract
We study elastic properties of rigid filaments modeled as stiff chains shorter than their persistence length. By rigid filaments we mean that fluctuations around the optimal filament shape are weak and that low-order expansions (quadratic or quartic) in the deviation from the optimal shape are sufficient to describe them. Our main interest lies in the profiles of force vs. projected filament length, closure probability and weakly buckled states. Results may be relevant to experiments on self-assembled biological (microtubules, actin filaments) and synthetic (organo-gelators) filaments, carbon nanotubes and polymers grafted with strongly repelling side chains, some of which are discussed here.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 229-241 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | European Physical Journal E |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 Nov |
Keywords
- 82.37.Rs Single molecule manipulation of proteins and other biological molecules
- 87.15.La Mechanical properties
- 87.16.Ka Filaments, microtubules, their networks, and supramolecular assemblies
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Biophysics
- Chemistry(all)
- Materials Science(all)
- Surfaces and Interfaces