Segregation of Polymers in Confined Spaces

Abstract

We investigate the motion of two overlapping polymers with self-avoidance confined in a narrow 2d box. A statistical model is constructed using blob free-energy arguments. We find spontaneous segregation under the condition: $L>R_{//}$, and mixing under $L<R_{//}$, where L is the length of the box, and $R_{//}$ the polymer extension in an infinite slit. Segregation time scales are determined by solving a mean first-passage time problem, and by performing Monte Carlo simulations. Predictions of the two methods show good agreement. Our results may elucidate a driving force for chromosomes segregation in bacteria.

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Polymer segregation under confinement: Free energy calculations and segregation dynamics simulations
• Free energy of a folded polymer under cylindrical confinement
• Free energy and segregation dynamics of two channel-confined polymers of different length
• Equilibrium organization, conformation, and dynamics of two polymers under box-like confinement