Michieletto, Davide, Baiesi, Marco, Orlandini, Enzo and Turner, Matthew S. (2015) Rings in random environments : sensing disorder through topology. Soft Matter, 11 (6). pp. 1100-1106. doi:10.1039/c4sm02324b ISSN 1744-683X.

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Abstract

In this paper we study the role of topology in DNA gel electrophoresis experiments via molecular dynamics simulations. The gel is modelled as a 3D array of obstacles from which half edges are removed at random with probability p, thereby generating a disordered environment. Changes in the microscopic structure of the gel are captured by measuring the electrophoretic mobility of ring polymers moving through the medium, while their linear counterparts provide a control system as we show they are insensitive to these changes. We show that ring polymers provide a novel, non-invasive way of exploiting topology to sense microscopic disorder. Finally, we compare the results from the simulations with an analytical model for the non-equilibrium differential mobility, and find a striking agreement between simulation and theory.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Divisions:	Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Physics
Journal or Publication Title:	Soft Matter
Publisher:	Royal Society of Chemistry
ISSN:	1744-683X
Official Date:	2015
Dates:	Date Event 2015 Published 12 December 2015 Available 10 December 2014 Accepted 22 October 2014 Submitted
Volume:	11
Number:	6
Page Range:	pp. 1100-1106
DOI:	10.1039/c4sm02324b
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access

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