SEMIFLEXIBLE CHAIN MOLECULES WITH NONUNIFORM CURVATURE .1. STRUCTURAL-PROPERTIES

The structure of polymers with nonuniform curvature has been calculate d for a semiflexible chain model, and a general expression for the per sistence length and end-to-end distance is derived for a freely rotati ng chain. The statistical properties of molecules with one or more sta tic bends or having a locally changed flexibility are analyzed in term s of the persistence length, but also the influence from heterogeneity of the molecular structure for an ensemble of chains is considered. A ssuming the change in chain structure is caused, e.g., by the binding of ligand molecules, the effect of cooperativity on the molecular conf iguration is also treated.