Abstract

The overarching objective of this paper is to explore the implications of variation in ion concentration on the structural transitions driven by external forces in a torsionally constrained DNA molecule. A comprehensive understanding of the phase behavior of torsionally constrained DNA is useful because DNA in cells is tightly packaged and is acted upon by molecular machines in different ionic environments. We examine the mechanics of the overstretching transition, characterized by a 70% jump in contour length, wherein a mixture of B- and S-DNA converts into a mixture of S- and P-DNA through a triple point in the phase diagram. Our results are corroborated by experimental data at every step and we make predictions that are experimentally verifiable.

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