Gaussian Chain Entropy only. Infinite extensibility. 2. Freely Jointed Chain. Entropy. Finite extensibility. Rigid rods. 3. Wormlike Chain. Entropy. Finite extensibility. Bending elasticity. Smooth curve like cooked spaghetti.
Persistence length = 50nm = 6mm = bigger than a cell = 17m
Mechanism of DNA virus assembly and DNA packaging Rao and Feiss – Annu Rev Virol (2015) 2(1): 351–378 Costs of DNA packaging: DNA bending + Electrostatic repulsion of charged DNA + Entropic cost of confinement
Measuring the force generated by T4 DNA packaging motors Fuller et al PNAS (2007) 104: 16868-16873 Tension in the DNA increases as packaging proceeds. Eventually the tether breaks. Speed of motpor decreases as tension increases.
Differential Scanning Calorimetry of Bacteriophage . Exothermic peaks associated with Capsid denaturation and DNA melting. Endothermic peak due to DNA ejection. Shows that there was significant stored energy in the packaged DNA Bauer et al J Virol (2015) 89:9288-9298
Kunze and Netz (2000)
Brower-Toland et al 2002
Mihardja et al (2006)
Kulic and Schiessel 2004
Tomschik et al 2005