THE HELIX-COIL TRANSITION IN A DOUBLE-STRANDED POLYNUCLEOTIDE AND THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL RANDOM WALK

Abstract

The helix-coil transition in a double-stranded homopolynucleotide is considered. The new approach to the melted loops account is proposed. The relative distance between the corresponding monomers of two polymer chains is modeled by the two-dimensional random walk on the square lattice. Returns of the random walk to the origin describe the formation of hydrogen bonds between complementary units. To take into account the interaction of monomers inside the chains, we consider various regimes of return to the origin. One of them involves two competing interactions and demonstrates a nontrivial sharp denaturation transition. The rich phase behavior of the double-stranded homopolynucleotide is discussed in terms of the proposed approach.