12 research outputs found
A Liquid Crystal Model of Viral DNA Encapsidation
A liquid crystal continuum modeling framework for icosahedra bacteriophage
viruses is developed and tested. The main assumptions of the model are the
chromonic columnar hexagonal structure of confined DNA, the high resistance to
bending and the phase transition from solid to fluid-like states as the
concentration of DNA in the capsid decreases during infection. The model
predicts osmotic pressure inside the capsid and the ejection force of the DNA
as well as the size of the isotropic volume at the center of the capsid.
Extensions of the model are discussed
Telephone-cord instabilities in thin smectic capillaries
Telephone-cord patterns have been recently observed in smectic liquid crystal
capillaries. In this paper we analyse the effects that may induce them. As long
as the capillary keeps its linear shape, we show that a nonzero chiral
cholesteric pitch favors the SmA*-SmC* transition. However, neither the
cholesteric pitch nor the presence of an intrinsic bending stress are able to
give rise to a curved capillary shape.
The key ingredient for the telephone-cord instability is spontaneous
polarization. The free energy minimizer of a spontaneously polarized SmA* is
attained on a planar capillary, characterized by a nonzero curvature. More
interestingly, in the SmC* phase the combined effect of the molecular tilt and
the spontaneous polarization pushes towards a helicoidal capillary shape, with
nonzero curvature and torsion.Comment: Submitte