Networks of helix-forming polymers
Abstract
Biological molecules can form hydrogen bonds between nearby residues, leading to helical secondary structures. The associated reduction of configurational entropy leads to a temperature dependence of this effect: the helix-coil transition. Since the formation of helices implies a dramatic shortening of the polymer dimensions, an externally imposed end-to-end distance R affects the equilibrium helical fraction of the polymer and the resulting force-extension curves show anomalous plateau regimes. In this article, we investigate the behaviour of a cross link ed network of such helicogenic molecules, particularly focusing on the coupling of the (average) helical content present in a network to the externally imposed strain. We show that both elongation and compression can lead to an increase in helical domains under appropriate conditions.
- Publication:
-
European Physical Journal E
- Pub Date:
- August 2002
- DOI:
- 10.1140/epje/i2002-10044-x
- arXiv:
- arXiv:cond-mat/0207162
- Bibcode:
- 2002EPJE....8..539K
- Keywords:
-
- 78.20.Ek;
- 83.80.Va;
- 87.15.La;
- Optical activity;
- Elastomeric polymers;
- Mechanical properties;
- Condensed Matter - Soft Condensed Matter;
- Condensed Matter - Statistical Mechanics
- E-Print:
- Latex, 17 pages, 11 figures, final version