Knotting weakens a
polymer molecule
Computer simulations reveal that,
like a tightly knotted rope, a knotted polymer molecule is weakest and
most likely to break next to the knot.
References:
Saitta, A.M. . . . M.L. Klein. 1999. Influence of a knot on the strength
of a polymer strand. Nature 399(May 6):46.
Further Readings:
Peterson, I. 1997. Knotted
walks. Science News Online (Nov. 1).
______. 1997. Getting physical with DNA. Science News 151(April
26):256.
______. 1996. Tying knots to tubular geometry, DNA loops. Science
News 150(Nov. 16):310.
Sources:
Michael L. Klein
University of Pennsylvania
Center for Molecular Modeling
Department of Chemistry
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6202
Web site: http://www.sas.upenn.edu/chem/faculty/klein/klein.html
Philip Nelson
University of Pennsylvania
Department of Physics and Astronomy
209 South 33rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6396
From Science
News, Vol. 155, No. 19, May 8, 1999, p. 295.
Copyright © 1999, Science Service.
