Entropically Driven Helix Formation
Soft Condensed Matter
2007-05-23 v1 Statistical Mechanics
Abstract
The helix is a ubiquitous motif for biopolymers. We propose a heuristic, entropically based model that predicts helix formation in a system of hard spheres and semiflexible tubes. We find that the entropy of the spheres is maximized when short stretches of the tube form a helix with a geometry close to that found in natural helices. Our model could be directly tested with wormlike micelles as the tubes, and the effect could be used to self-assemble supramolecular helices.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0502520,
title = {Entropically Driven Helix Formation},
author = {Yehuda Snir and Randall D. Kamien},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0502520},
year = {2007}
}
Comments
5 pages, one included figure