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Single-molecule experiments in which force is applied to DNA or RNA molecules have enabled important discoveries of nucleic acid properties and nucleic acid-enzyme interactions. These experiments rely on a model of the polymer force-extension behavior to calibrate the experiments; typically the experiments use the worm-like chain (WLC) theory for double-stranded DNA and RNA. This theory agrees well with experiments for long molecules. Recent single-molecule experiments have used shorter molecules, with contour lengths in the range of 1-10 persistence lengths. Most WLC theory calculations to date have assumed infinite molecule lengths, and do not agree well with experiments on shorter chains. Key physical effects that become important when shorter molecules are used include (i) boundary conditions which constrain the allowed fluctuations at the ends of the molecule and (ii) rotational fluctuations of the bead to which the polymer is attached, which change the apparent extension of the molecule. We describe the finite worm-like chain (FWLC) theory, which takes into account these effects. We show the FWLC predictions diverge from the classic WLC solution for molecules with contour lengths a few times the persistence length. Thus the FWLC will allow more accurate experimental calibration for relatively short molecules, facilitating future discoveries in single-molecule force microscopy.
When DNA molecules are heated they denature. This occurs locally so that loops of molten single DNA strands form, connected by intact double-stranded DNA pieces. The properties of this melting transition have been intensively investigated. Recently t
The determination of a patients DNA sequence can, in principle, reveal an increased risk to fall ill with particular diseases [1,2] and help to design personalized medicine [3]. Moreover, statistical studies and comparison of genomes [4] of a large n
The role of thermal pressure fluctuation excited within tightly packaged DNA prior to ejection from protein capsid shells is discussed in a model calculation. At equilibrium before ejection we assume the DNA is folded many times into a bundle of para
Semiflexible polymers characterized by the contour length $L$ and persistent length $ell_p$ confined in a spatial region $D$ have been described as a series of ``{em spherical blobs} and ``{em deflecting lines} by de Gennes and Odjik for $ell_p < D$
Solid-state nanopores are single molecule sensors that measure changes in ionic current as charged polymers such as DNA pass through. Here, we present comprehensive experiments on the length, voltage and salt dependence of the frequency of double-str