Extending a spectrin repeat unit. II: rupture behavior.

ABSTRACT: A spectrin repeat unit was subject to extension using cyclic expansion nonequilibrium molecular dynamics. Periodic boundary conditions were used to examine the effects of the contiguous alpha-helical linker on the force response. The measured force-extension curve shows a linear increase in the force response when the spectrin repeat unit is extended by approximately 0.4 nm. After that point, the force response peaks and subsequently declines. The peak in the force response marks the point where the spectrin repeat unit undergoes a change in its material properties from a strongly elastic material to a mostly viscous one, on the timescales of the simulations. The force peak is also correlated with rupture of the alpha-helical linker, and is likely the event responsible for the peaks in the

SUBMITTER: Paramore S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1367010 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature