Dynamics of a polymer chain confined in a membrane

Eur Phys J E Soft Matter. 2011 May;34(5):46. doi: 10.1140/epje/i2011-11046-3. Epub 2011 May 11.

Abstract

We present a Brownian dynamics theory with full hydrodynamics (Stokesian dynamics) for a Gaussian polymer chain embedded in a liquid membrane which is surrounded by bulk solvent and walls. The mobility tensors are derived in Fourier space for the two geometries, namely, a free membrane embedded in a bulk fluid, and a membrane sandwiched by the two walls. Within the preaveraging approximation, a new expression for the diffusion coefficient of the polymer is obtained for the free-membrane geometry. We also carry out a Rouse normal mode analysis to obtain the relaxation time and the dynamical structure factor. For large polymer size, both quantities show Zimm-like behavior in the free-membrane case, whereas they are Rouse-like for the sandwiched membrane geometry. We use the scaling argument to discuss the effect of excluded-volume interactions on the polymer relaxation time.

MeSH terms

  • Diffusion
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Membrane Proteins / chemistry*
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Molecular Dynamics Simulation*
  • Particle Size
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polymers / metabolism
  • Solvents / chemistry

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins
  • Polymers
  • Solvents