Kinetic theory and thermodynamics of template-directed copolymerization. (6th February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gaspard, Pierre
• Is Part Of: Journal of statistical mechanics. (2017:Feb.)
• Publication Date: 2017-02-06
• Subjects: 15 -- 4 -- 12; Statistical mechanics -- Periodicals; Mechanics -- Statistical methods -- Periodicals; 530.1305
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-5468/aa56a1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1742-5468

Abstract

Abstract: Template-directed copolymerization is the fundamental process for the replication, transcription, and translation of genetic information. The copy of the template sequence is grown by the attachment of monomers with a molecular machine. The long-time kinetics of such processes is exactly solvable in terms of iterated function systems . This method determines the effects of sequence heterogeneity and replication errors on the growth of the copy and the statistical properties of its sequence. In particular, a transition can occur between linear and sublinear growth in time of the copy. In the linear regime, the local growth velocity along the template may have a fractal distribution. Furthermore, the growth can be driven around equilibrium by the entropic effect of replication errors in an adverse free-energy landscape.