Mechanical models of the double DNA

Abstract

In this paper, we review different mechanical models of double DNA (polymer models, elastic rod model, network model, torsional springs model, soliton-existence supporting models) emphasising specifities of each model. We especially considered the DNA model of Kovaleva and Manevich (2005), and Kovaleva et al. (2007). On a basis of this model, we made double DNA helical models with ideally elastic, visco-elastic, hereditary properties and fractional order model and named them multi-pendulum/multi-chain models. For each of these models, we made systems of corresponding differential equations or integro-differential equations or differential fractional order equations. Our results point to existence of independent eigen multi-frequency signals in double DNA chains with subsets of the eigen frequencies as well as set of one eigen frequency normal modes. For some of these multi-pendulum models, we calculate transfer of energy trough the double DNA chains. We consider multi-pendulum models appropriate for experimental testing of visco-elastic properties of DNA.