Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands Rupture

In this paper we study electromagnetic forces induced on DNA and DNA-like helices by external electromagnetic waves. We consider simultaneously occurring forces and torques, interconnected and acting along the double helix axis. Since the DNA molecule has an absorption band in the ultraviolet and vi...

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Main Authors: Igor V. Semchenko, Ivan S. Mikhalka, Ihar A. Faniayeu, Sergei A. Khakhomov, Aliaksei P. Balmakou, Sergei A. Tretyakov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-09-01
Series:Photonics
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/7/4/83
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author Igor V. Semchenko
Ivan S. Mikhalka
Ihar A. Faniayeu
Sergei A. Khakhomov
Aliaksei P. Balmakou
Sergei A. Tretyakov
author_facet Igor V. Semchenko
Ivan S. Mikhalka
Ihar A. Faniayeu
Sergei A. Khakhomov
Aliaksei P. Balmakou
Sergei A. Tretyakov
author_sort Igor V. Semchenko
collection DOAJ
description In this paper we study electromagnetic forces induced on DNA and DNA-like helices by external electromagnetic waves. We consider simultaneously occurring forces and torques, interconnected and acting along the double helix axis. Since the DNA molecule has an absorption band in the ultraviolet and visible range near wavelengths <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>λ</mi><mrow><mn>1</mn><mi>r</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>280</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> nm and <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>λ</mi><mrow><mn>2</mn><mi>r</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>500</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> nm, we expect that it may be possible to selectively apply engineered forces to DNA molecules using appropriate illumination by light in these frequency ranges. The optical forces are simulated for DNA fragments consisting of 20 and 35 turns. Fragments of this length are convenient for direct sequencing and subsequent use in experiments and in practice. It is shown that repulsion forces can arise between the strands of the double DNA-like helix in the field of external electromagnetic waves. Such forces are characteristic of a DNA-like helix with its specific pitch angle and are not inherent in double helices with more straightened or more compressed turns. These repulsion forces, acting along the entire helix, both for electric charges and for electric currents, can lead to damage and rupture of the strands in the double helix. In addition, there can also exist forces and moments of forces directed along the helix axis, which simultaneously stretch and unwind a double helix. The double helix equilibrium under the action of optical forces is also of interest from another point of view, i.e., for optimizing the structure of artificial magnetics and bianisotropic metamaterials for applications in all frequency ranges.
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spelling doaj.art-3c2094a84d454f668e3ebd68cadc13572023-11-20T15:16:34ZengMDPI AGPhotonics2304-67322020-09-01748310.3390/photonics7040083Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands RuptureIgor V. Semchenko0Ivan S. Mikhalka1Ihar A. Faniayeu2Sergei A. Khakhomov3Aliaksei P. Balmakou4Sergei A. Tretyakov5Faculty of Physics and Information Technology, Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, 246019 Gomel, BelarusFaculty of Physics and Information Technology, Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, 246019 Gomel, BelarusFaculty of Physics and Information Technology, Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, 246019 Gomel, BelarusFaculty of Physics and Information Technology, Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, 246019 Gomel, BelarusFaculty of Physics and Information Technology, Francisk Skorina Gomel State University, 246019 Gomel, BelarusDepartment of Electronics and Nanoengineering, Aalto University, P.O. Box 15500, FI-00076 Aalto, FinlandIn this paper we study electromagnetic forces induced on DNA and DNA-like helices by external electromagnetic waves. We consider simultaneously occurring forces and torques, interconnected and acting along the double helix axis. Since the DNA molecule has an absorption band in the ultraviolet and visible range near wavelengths <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>λ</mi><mrow><mn>1</mn><mi>r</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>280</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> nm and <inline-formula><math display="inline"><semantics><mrow><msub><mi>λ</mi><mrow><mn>2</mn><mi>r</mi><mi>e</mi><mi>s</mi></mrow></msub><mo>=</mo><mn>500</mn></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> nm, we expect that it may be possible to selectively apply engineered forces to DNA molecules using appropriate illumination by light in these frequency ranges. The optical forces are simulated for DNA fragments consisting of 20 and 35 turns. Fragments of this length are convenient for direct sequencing and subsequent use in experiments and in practice. It is shown that repulsion forces can arise between the strands of the double DNA-like helix in the field of external electromagnetic waves. Such forces are characteristic of a DNA-like helix with its specific pitch angle and are not inherent in double helices with more straightened or more compressed turns. These repulsion forces, acting along the entire helix, both for electric charges and for electric currents, can lead to damage and rupture of the strands in the double helix. In addition, there can also exist forces and moments of forces directed along the helix axis, which simultaneously stretch and unwind a double helix. The double helix equilibrium under the action of optical forces is also of interest from another point of view, i.e., for optimizing the structure of artificial magnetics and bianisotropic metamaterials for applications in all frequency ranges.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/7/4/83double DNA-like helixrupture of helix strandsunwinding of a helixbianisotropymetamaterials
spellingShingle Igor V. Semchenko
Ivan S. Mikhalka
Ihar A. Faniayeu
Sergei A. Khakhomov
Aliaksei P. Balmakou
Sergei A. Tretyakov
Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands Rupture
Photonics
double DNA-like helix
rupture of helix strands
unwinding of a helix
bianisotropy
metamaterials
title Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands Rupture
title_full Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands Rupture
title_fullStr Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands Rupture
title_full_unstemmed Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands Rupture
title_short Optical Forces Acting on a Double DNA-Like Helix, Its Unwinding and Strands Rupture
title_sort optical forces acting on a double dna like helix its unwinding and strands rupture
topic double DNA-like helix
rupture of helix strands
unwinding of a helix
bianisotropy
metamaterials
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6732/7/4/83
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