Dynamics of DNA tumbling in shear to rotational mixed flows: Pathways and periods

Abstract

The tumbling dynamics of DNA have been examined via experiments and Brownian dynamics (BD) simulations in mixed flows that vary from pure shear to pure rotation. In shear, tumbling pathways and periods agree well with earlier studies; in rotation-dominated flows, a new tumbling pathway is identified and experimentally observed. Based on these results, we have developed robust scaling laws for DNA tumbling in both shear and rotational flows and have found a critical flow-type parameter for transition from the shearlike flow regime to the rotation-dominated one.