Equilibrium and dynamical properties of semiflexible chain molecules with confined transverse fluctuations

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Abstract
The partition function of a semiflexible chain molecule with harmonically confined transverse fluctuations is calculated. Equilibrium properties exhibit qualitative differences between the weak and the strong confinement behavior. The relaxation times of undulations perpendicular to the chain molecule contour are calculated on the basis of a Langevin equation approach. With increasing confinement a decrease of the relaxation times is found. As a consequence the mean square displacement of monomers and the dynamic structure factor are strongly influenced by the confinement. The comparison of the calculated mean square displacement with diffusing wave spectroscopy measurements of actin filaments exhibits good agreement.