Inhomogeneities and nonlinear dynamics of a helical DNA interacting with a RNA-polymerase

We have numerically investigated the effects of helicity and inhomogeneities on DNA base pairs opening. The inhomogeneities are due to the site-dependent stacking and hydrogen bonding energies in DNA and protein molecules. We have considered a situation in which the active site of the RNA-polymerase molecule binds onto the promoter site of the spin-like model of the DNA molecule at the physiological temperature and creates a bubble. During the study, we have found that the helical coupling has to be very weak compared to intra-strand coupling in the real DNA molecule. Results show that inhomogeneities do not affect the general pattern of base pair opening, even as the periodic inhomogeneity introduces a train of periodic oscillations on the tail of the bubble; while the height of the bubble is an increasing function of the helical coupling parameter. The basic properties of breather-like modes, obtained here by taking into account helical structure and inhomogeneities, are essential for DNA functioning since such breathing-like modes are considered to be much better candidates for the nonlinear modes responsible for a locally open state where biological functioning takes place.