Dresden 2006 – scientific programme

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AKB: Biologische Physik

AKB 40: Poster Session II

AKB 40.12: Poster

Wednesday, March 29, 2006, 16:30–19:30, P3

Elastic properties of viral capsids — •Mathias Puhlmann and Peter Lenz — AG Komplexe Systeme,Philipps-Universität Marburg,Renthof 6, 35032 Marburg

Empty viral shells have astonishing elastic properties. Recent experiments on bacteriophage φ29 [1] have shown that these nano-containers withstand nano-newton forces. Their elastic response to applied point forces is nonlinear and varies across the surface. To elucidate these phenomena we study numerically discrete elastic models. Our simulations reveal the connection between the geometry of viral capsids and their mechanical properties. The numerically determined distribution of elastic spring constants agrees well with the experimental findings. By measuring the stress distribution we are able to predict the rupture probabilities across the capsid surface.

[1] I.L.Ivanovka et al.,PNAS 101(20):7600 (2003)