Eur. Phys. J. E 8, 539-547 (2002)
DOI: 10.1140/epje/i2002-10044-x
Networks of helix-forming polymers
S. Kutter and E.M. TerentjevCavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
(Received 5 July 2002 Online publication 16 October 2002)
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 link ed
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 elongation and
compression can lead to an increase in helical domains under appropriate
conditions.
78.20.Ek - Optical activity.
83.80.Va - Elastomeric polymers.
87.15.La - Mechanical properties.
© EDP Sciences, Società Italiana di Fisica, Springer-Verlag 2002
