LIQUID CRYSTALLINE PHASE OF THE DOUBLE-STRAND DNA IN THE POLYMER MATRIX

Abstract

The liquid crystalline phase formation by short DNA fragments within the flexible polymer water containing matrix as well as the influence of interaction parameters and volume fraction of polymer on the orientational ordering have been investigated. It has been shown that liquid crystalline order formation in ds-DNA, immeresed in the polymeric matrix occurs with increase of the volume fraction. The volume fraction of transition between isotropic and nematic phases depends on value of the temperature dependendt Flory–Huggins parameter. The obtained results show the effect of the polymer matrix on the ordering in DNA molecules.