Statistical mechanics of stretching of biopolymers

Abstract

We developed a simple model of polymers on a triangular lattice to study the force-induced transitions related to biopolymers. Using an exact enumeration technique, we calculate various thermodynamic quantities associated with it. We show here, by including different parameters, e.g. bending and paring interactions in the model system, that one can understand the qualitative differences in the force-extension curves exhibited by different biopolymers. Our study also shows that the solvent plays an important role in the unfolding of proteins. © 2011 IOP Publishing Ltd.