Ratchet rectification effect on the translocation of a flexible polyelectrolyte chain
Abstract
We report a three dimensional Langevin dynamics simulation of a uniformly charged flexible polyelectrolyte chain, translocating through an asymmetric narrow channel with periodically varying cross sections under the influence of a periodic external electric field. When reflection symmetry of the channel is broken, a rectification effect is observed with a favored direction for the chain translocation. For a given volume of the channel unit and polymer length, the rectification occurs below a threshold frequency of the external periodic driving force. We have also observed that the extent of the rectification varies non-monotonically with increasing molecular weight and the strength of geometric asymmetry of the channel. Observed non-monotonicity of the rectification performance has been interpreted in terms of a competition between two effects arising from the channel asymmetry and change in conformational entropy. An analytical model is presented with predictions consistent with the simulation results.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Aug 24, 2016
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.4961505
Entities
People
- Debasish Mondal
- Murugappan Muthukumar
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- National Human Genome Research Institute
- National Science Foundation
- University of Massachusetts