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Morphological ordering in biopolymers: informational statistical thermodynamic approach
Sergio A Hassan1, Marcus V Mesquita, Aurea R Vasconcellos
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA.
Summary
This study shows how biopolymers can develop ordered structures, like charge-density waves, in open systems. This complex behavior, driven by biochemical processes, leads to a bioelectret state.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Statistical Thermodynamics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Biopolymers exhibit complex behaviors in open, far-from-equilibrium systems.
- Understanding morphological ordering is key to biopolymer function and applications.
- Dissipative systems often display emergent complex behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emergence of morphological ordering in open, far-from-equilibrium biopolymer models.
- To explore the applicability of informational statistical thermodynamics to complex biopolymer systems.
- To identify the conditions leading to ordered states in biopolymers.
Main Methods:
- Application of informational statistical thermodynamics.
- Modeling of an open, far-from-equilibrium biopolymer system.
- Analysis of spatial ordering and charge-density wave formation.
Main Results:
- Evidence for the formation of nonlinear spatial ordering.
- Emergence of static charge-density waves.
- Formation of a bioelectret-type state in the biopolymer model.
Conclusions:
- Morphological ordering and bioelectret states can emerge in biopolymers under specific conditions.
- Informational statistical thermodynamics is a suitable framework for studying such complex systems.
- Biochemical processes can drive the formation of ordered structures in biopolymers.