Biophysics of knotting.

Published

Journal Article (Review)

Knots appear in a wide variety of biophysical systems, ranging from biopolymers, such as DNA and proteins, to macroscopic objects, such as umbilical cords and catheters. Although significant advancements have been made in the mathematical theory of knots and some progress has been made in the statistical mechanics of knots in idealized chains, the mechanisms and dynamics of knotting in biophysical systems remain far from fully understood. We report on recent progress in the biophysics of knotting-the formation, characterization, and dynamics of knots in various biophysical contexts.

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Meluzzi, D; Smith, DE; Arya, G

Published Date

  • January 2010

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 39 /

Start / End Page

  • 349 - 366

PubMed ID

  • 20192771

Pubmed Central ID

  • 20192771

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1936-1238

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1936-122X

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1146/annurev.biophys.093008.131412

Language

  • eng