Conformações tridimensionais de filamentos elasticos : aplicações a molecula de DNA

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2002

RESUMO

We study the so called Kirchhoff rod model. It permits the study of the behavior of elastic thin rods and has large applications ranging from Engineering to Structural Biology. We apply the model to study the tridimensional structures of the DNA molecule considering it as a non-homogeneous elastic filament. The first non-homogeneity considered is the distribution of the mass along a twisted closed rod, namely, the twisted planar ring. We show that, even when imersed in a viscous medium, the dynamics of the unstable planar ring depends on its mass distribution. The second non-homogeneity considered is in the Young´s and shear modulus. We show that these non-homogeneities produce spatial complex equilibrium solutions of the static Kirchhoff equations and we compare them with the solutions of the homogeneous case. Finally, we develop a method to solve the boundary value problem, commom in many biological situations. This method alow us to find equilibrium solutions for given positions of both ends of the rod

ASSUNTO(S)

solidos elasticos modelos de corda deformações (mecanica) modelos mecanicos acido desoxirribonucleico

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