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Related Concept Videos

Third Law of Thermodynamics02:38

Third Law of Thermodynamics

A pure, perfectly crystalline solid possessing no kinetic energy (that is, at a temperature of absolute zero, 0 K) may be described by a single microstate, as its purity, perfect crystallinity,and complete lack of motion means there is but one possible location for each identical atom or molecule comprising the crystal (W = 1). According to the Boltzmann equation, the entropy of this system is zero.
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Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
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Published on: May 15, 2017

First-order coil-globule transition driven by vibrational entropy.

Carlo Maffi1, Marco Baiesi, Lapo Casetti

  • 1Laboratory of Statistical Biophysics, SB ITP, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.

Nature Communications
|September 20, 2012
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Summary

Polymers change shape with temperature, exhibiting a coil-globule transition. Our new model reveals this transition can be first-order, reconciling theory with protein folding experiments.

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Area of Science:

  • Polymer Physics
  • Biophysics
  • Statistical Mechanics

Background:

  • Polymers undergo conformational changes in response to stimuli like temperature.
  • The coil-globule transition, a key polymer transformation, has debated characteristics (continuous vs. discontinuous).
  • Existing theoretical models predominantly predict second-order transitions for this phenomenon.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce a novel polymer model incorporating previously overlooked features.
  • To investigate the nature of the coil-globule transition within this new framework.
  • To address discrepancies between theoretical predictions and experimental observations in polymer physics and protein folding.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a new theoretical model for polymer behavior.
  • Analysis of the model's phase transition characteristics as a function of parameters.
  • Comparison of model predictions with existing theories and experimental data.

Main Results:

  • The model demonstrates that a first-order phase transition can emerge smoothly.
  • This transition is dependent on specific model parameters.
  • The findings offer a potential explanation for the two-state behavior observed in proteins.

Conclusions:

  • The introduced polymer model provides a more comprehensive description of the coil-globule transition.
  • First-order transitions are possible and can be reconciled with polymer physics principles.
  • This work may help bridge the gap between polymer theory and experimental protein folding studies.