Discrete elastic model for stretching-induced flagellar polymorphs

Details Discrete elastic model for stretching-induced flagellar polymorphs Discrete elastic model for stretching-induced flagellar polymorphs

2008-04-06

arxiv.org/abs/0804.0893v1

EPL 82, 28001 (2008)

Physics

Condensed Matter

Soft Condensed Matter

Scientific paper

10.1209/0295-5075/82/28001

Force-induced reversible transformations between coiled and normal polymorphs of bacterial flagella have been observed in recent optical-tweezer experiment. We introduce a discrete elastic rod model with two competing helical states governed by a fluctuating spin-like variable that represents the underlying conformational states of flagellin monomers. Using hybrid Brownian dynamics Monte-Carlo simulations, we show that a helix undergoes shape transitions dominated by domain wall nucleation and motion in response to externally applied uniaxial tension. A scaling argument for the critical force is presented in good agreement with experimental and simulation results. Stretching rate-dependent elasticity including a buckling instability are found, also consistent with the experiment.

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