Oxford Theoretical Physics
Condensed Matter Theory: Soft and Biological Matter
Julia Yeomans
Lecture Courses:
Research:
Vacancies:
Group Members:
- Rodrigo Ledesma Aguilar
- Miha Ravnik
- Lisa Moevius
- Ioannis Zacharoudiou
- Irwin Zaid
- Mitya Pushkin
- Henry Shum
Links:
- Oxford University
- Oxford Physics
- Theoretical Physics
- Condensed Matter Theory
- Theory of Soft and Biological Matter
- Oxford Argentine Tango Portal
Collaborators:
- Anna Balazs
- Issam Ali
- Davide Marenduzzo
- Enzo Orlandini
- Olivier Pierre-Louis
Back to current research interest
POLYMER DYNAMICS
A problem that has captured the attention of the physics community in recent years is the translocation of polymer chains through narrow pores. This has applicability to many biological processes from the permeation of macromolecules across the nuclear pore complex to their packaging in and ejection from viral capsids. It is also relevant to developing controlled applications such as the separation of macromolecules in designed microfluidic devices or the selective recognition and sequencing of DNA. We are using analytical calculations based on the de Gennes blob model and mesoscopic numerical simulations to investigate the injection of polymer chains into nanochannels.
We have also recently worked on the ejection of DNA from viral capsids: simulations are allowing us to study the interplay between equilibrium thermodynamics and non equilibrium effects due to the crowding and tangling of the confined DNA. The role of knotting on polymer function and dynamics is also an exciting topic: see here here for videos of knotted filaments in a shear flow.
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Left: molecular motor, which packs DNA in a
viral capsid; ejection is driven by pressure Right: turnip yellow mosaic virus |
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Packing and ejection rates showing clear pauses due to crowding at the exit |
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Recent Publications:
1. Effect of topology on dynamics of knots in polymers under tension, EPL 89, 20001 (2010). [arxiv]
2. Complex dynamics of knotted filaments in shear flow, EPL 92, 34003 (2010). [arxiv]
3. Polymer packaging and ejection in viral capsids: Shape matters, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 208102 (2006). [arxiv]