Thermodynamic relations for DNA phase transitions

Abstract

The force induced unzipping transition of a double stranded DNA is considered from a purely thermodynamic point of view. This analysis provides us with a set of relations that can be used to test microscopic theories and experiments. The thermodynamic approach is based on the hypothesis of impenetrability of the force in the zipped state. The melting and the unzipping transitions are considered in the same framework and compared with the existing statistical model results. The analysis is then extended to a possible continuous unzipping transition.