A universal method for analyzing copolymer growth
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Qureshi, Benjamin J
Juritz, Jordan
Poulton, Jenny M
Beersing-Vasquez, Adrian
Ouldridge, Thomas E
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Polymers consisting of more than one type of monomer, known as copolymers,
are vital to both living and synthetic systems. Copolymerisation has been
studied theoretically in a number of contexts, often by considering a Markov
process in which monomers are added or removed from the growing tip of a long
copolymer. To date, the analysis of the most general models of this class has
necessitated simulation. We present a general method for analysing such
processes without resorting to simulation. Our method can be applied to models
with an arbitrary network of sub-steps prior to addition or removal of a
monomer, including non-equilibrium kinetic proofreading cycles. Moreover, the
approach allows for a dependency of addition and removal reactions on the
neighbouring site in the copolymer, and thermodynamically self-consistent
models in which all steps are assumed to be microscopically reversible. Using
our approach, thermodynamic quantities such as chemical work; kinetic
quantities such as time taken to grow; and statistical quantities such as the
distribution of monomer types in the growing copolymer can be derived either
analytically or numerically directly from the model definition.
are vital to both living and synthetic systems. Copolymerisation has been
studied theoretically in a number of contexts, often by considering a Markov
process in which monomers are added or removed from the growing tip of a long
copolymer. To date, the analysis of the most general models of this class has
necessitated simulation. We present a general method for analysing such
processes without resorting to simulation. Our method can be applied to models
with an arbitrary network of sub-steps prior to addition or removal of a
monomer, including non-equilibrium kinetic proofreading cycles. Moreover, the
approach allows for a dependency of addition and removal reactions on the
neighbouring site in the copolymer, and thermodynamically self-consistent
models in which all steps are assumed to be microscopically reversible. Using
our approach, thermodynamic quantities such as chemical work; kinetic
quantities such as time taken to grow; and statistical quantities such as the
distribution of monomer types in the growing copolymer can be derived either
analytically or numerically directly from the model definition.
Date Issued
2023-03-10
Date Acceptance
2023-02-16
Citation
Journal of Chemical Physics, 2023, 158 (10), pp.1-22
ISSN
0021-9606
Publisher
American Institute of Physics
Start Page
1
End Page
22
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Chemical Physics
Volume
158
Issue
10
Copyright Statement
© 2023 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
License URL
Identifier
http://arxiv.org/abs/2211.02498v2
Subjects
cond-mat.stat-mech
physics.bio-ph
physics.chem-ph
physics.chem-ph
q-bio.MN
Notes
26 pages, 11 figures
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2023-03-10