Spontaneous curvature-induced dynamical instability of Kirchhoff filaments: Application to DNA kink deformations

Zhou Haijun, Ou-Yang Zhong-can
1999 Journal of Chemical Physics  
The Kirchhoff elastic theory of thin filaments with spontaneous curvature is employed in the understanding of the onset of the kink transitions observed in short DNA rings. Dynamical analysis shows that when its actual curvature is less than some threshold value determined by the spontaneous curvature, a circular DNA will begin to buckle to other shapes. The observable and the dominant deformation modes are also determined by dynamical instability analysis, and the different effects of Zn^2+
more » ... Mg^2+ ions on DNA configurational properties are qualitatively discussed.
doi:10.1063/1.478167 fatcat:jk2ain53tvcktb77yk63cv5nve