Is DNA elastic?

To perform its functions in the cell, a DNA molecule needs to fold, coil and unzip — processes that depend on its mechanical properties.

What can be used to model the elasticity of DNA?

One of the most widely used elasticity models for DNA is the twistable worm-like chain (TWLC), which describes the double helix as a continuous elastic rod with bending and torsional stiffness.

What is DNA persistence length?

∼50 nm
DNA is among the stiffest of known polymers with a persistence length of ∼50 nm (150 bp) in 0.1 M aqueous NaCl.

What is the typical stiffness estimate for an RNA molecule?

RNA is around 190%, 75%, 35% and 12% stiffer than DNA regarding twist, slide, shift and rise deformations (see Table 5). On the contrary, DNA is stiffer than RNA in terms of roll and tilt deformations, but the differences are small (between 10% and 20% increment in force- constants; see Table 5).

What is the average radius of a piece of double stranded DNA?

The DNA molecule in either single stranded (ssDNA) or double stranded (dsDNA) form is to be considered as a chain of spheres. If we are modeling dsDNA, the spheres have a 1 nm radius r0, whereas the ssDNA case has a 0.5 nm radius.

How do you calculate bending stiffness?

Its stiffness is S = F/δ, where F is the total load and δ is the bending deflection. Figure 5.7 (c) A beam of square section, loaded in bending. Its stiffness is S = F/δ, where F is the load and δ is the bending deflection.

What is the difference between the sugar of DNA and RNA?

There are two differences that distinguish DNA from RNA: (a) RNA contains the sugar ribose, while DNA contains the slightly different sugar deoxyribose (a type of ribose that lacks one oxygen atom), and (b) RNA has the nucleobase uracil while DNA contains thymine.

Which is the largest RNA?

mRNA
The mRNA has a complete nucleotide sequence so it is considered as the largest RNA.

What is pitch of DNA?

The double helix DNA turns after every 10 base pairs at a distance of 3.4 nm. This distance is called pitch. The distance between two base pairs is 0.34 nm.

What are the 2 strands of DNA called?

The double helix describes the appearance of double-stranded DNA, which is composed of two linear strands that run opposite to each other, or anti-parallel, and twist together. Each DNA strand within the double helix is a long, linear molecule made of smaller units called nucleotides that form a chain.

What is unit of stiffness?

Explanation: Stiffness is the resistance to deflection. It is the ratio of force (unit N) to the extension (m). Hence its unit is N/m.

What is stiffness K?

Sponsored Links. Stiffness is the resistance of an elastic body to deflection or deformation by an applied force – and can be expressed as. k = F / δ (1)