A simple one-dimensional lattice model is suggested to describe the
experimentally observed plateau in force-stretching diagrams for some
macromolecules. This chain model involves the nearest-neighbor interaction of a
Morse-like potential (required to have a saturation branch) and an harmonic
second-neighbor coupling. Under an external stretching applied t o the chain
ends, the intersite Morse-like potential results in the appearance of a
double-well potential within each chain monomer, whereas the interaction
between the second neighbors provide s a homogeneous bistable (degenerate)
ground state, at least within a certain part of the chain.
As a result, different conformational changes occur in the chain under the
external forcing. The transition regions between these conformations are
described as topological solitons. With a strong second-neighbor interaction,
the solitons describe the transition between the bistable ground states.
However, the key point of the model is the appearance of a heterogenous
structure, when the second-neighbor coupling is sufficiently weak. In this
case, a part of the chain has short bonds with a single-well potential, whereas
the complementary part admits strongly stretched bonds with a double-well
potential. This case allows us to explain the existence of a plateau in the
force-stretching diagram for DNA and alpha-helix protein. Finally, the soliton
dynamics are studied in detail.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. E, 13 figure
