research article
Conformation of Circular DNA in Two Dimensions
The conformation of circular DNA molecules of various lengths adsorbed in a 2D conformation on a mica surface is studied. The results confirm the conjecture that the critical exponent ν is topologically invariant and equal to the self-avoiding walk value (in the present case ν=3/4), and that the topology and dimensionality of the system strongly influence the crossover between the rigid regime and the self-avoiding regime at a scale L≈7ℓp. Additionally, the bond correlation function scales with the molecular length L as predicted. For molecular lengths L≤5ℓp, circular DNA behaves like a stiff molecule with an approximately elliptic shape.
Type
research article
Web of Science ID
WOS:000259793800074
Author(s)
Date Issued
2008
Publisher
Published in
Volume
101
Issue
14
Article Number
148103
Subjects
Editorial or Peer reviewed
REVIEWED
Written at
EPFL
EPFL units
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