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arXiv · cond-mat/0207162

Networks of helix-forming polymers

S. Kutter·E. M. Terentjev
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Abstract

Biological molecules can form hydrogen bonds between nearby residues, leading to helical secondary structures. The associated reduction of configurational entropy leads to a temperature dependence of this effect: the "helix-coil transition". Since the formation of helices implies a dramatic shortening of the polymer dimensions, an externally imposed end-to-end distance R affects the equilibrium helical fraction of the polymer and the resulting force- extension curves show anomalous plateau regimes. In this article, we investigate the behaviour of a cross-linked network of such helicogenic molecules, particularly, focusing on the coupling of the (average) helical content present in a network to the externally imposed strain. We show that both an elongation and compression can lead to an increase in helical domains under appropriate conditions.

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S. Kutter, E. M. Terentjev. 2002-11-19. Networks of helix-forming polymers. https://doi.org/10.1140/epje%2Fi2002-10044-x

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