Unzipping DNA - towards the first step of replication
Statistical Mechanics
2009-10-31 v1 q-bio
Abstract
The opening of the Y-fork - the first step of DNA replication - is shown to be a critical phenomenon under an external force at one of its ends. From the results of an equivalent delocalization in a non-hermitian quantum-mechanics problem we show the different scaling behavior of unzipping and melting. The resultant long-range critical features within the unzipped part of Y might play a role in the highly correlated biochemical functions during replication.
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/9912297,
title = {Unzipping DNA - towards the first step of replication},
author = {Somendra M. Bhattacharjee},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/9912297},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
4 pages, revtex, 2 eps figures