Maji, Jaya ; Bhattacharjee, Somendra M. ; Seno, Flavio ; Trovato, Antonio (2010) When a DNA triple helix melts: an analogue of the Efimov state New Journal of Physics, 12 (8). 083057_1-083057_7. ISSN 1367-2630
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Official URL: http://iopscience.iop.org/1367-2630/12/8/083057/
Related URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1367-2630/12/8/083057
Abstract
The base sequences of DNA contain the genetic code, and, to decode it, a double helical DNA has to be unzipped to reveal the bases. Recent studies have shown that a third strand can be used to identify the base sequences, not by opening the double helix but rather by forming a triple helix. It is predicted here that a three-strand DNA exhibits the unusual behaviour of the existence of a three-chain bound state in the absence of any two being bound. Such a state can occur at or above the duplex melting point. This phenomenon is analogous to the Efimov state in three-particle quantum mechanics. A scaling theory is used to justify the Efimov connection. Real space renormalization group (RG) and exact numerical calculations are used to validate the prediction of a biological Efimov effect.
Item Type: | Article |
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Source: | Copyright of this article belongs to Institute of Physics Publishing. |
ID Code: | 3124 |
Deposited On: | 09 Oct 2010 10:24 |
Last Modified: | 16 May 2016 13:59 |
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