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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
Published on: October 25, 2017
Nonlinear elasticity of stiff biopolymers connected by flexible linkers
K E Kasza1, G H Koenderink, Y C Lin
1Department of Physics and SEAS, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA.
Abstract:
Networks of the biopolymer actin, cross-linked by the compliant protein filamin, form soft gels. They can, however, withstand large shear stresses due to their pronounced nonlinear elastic behavior. The nonlinear elasticity can be controlled by varying the number of cross-links per actin filament. We propose and test a model of rigid filaments decorated by multiple flexible linkers that is in quantitative agreement with experiment. This allows us to estimate loads on individual cross-links, which we find to be less than 10 pN.
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