Theory of DNA condensation in the presence of stretching force: Zimm-Bragg model

A theory of DNA condensation by multivalent cations in the presence of an external stretching force is presented. It is shown that in the mean-field approximation the system is described by the Zimm-Bragg model with effective parameters of growth of ordered phase and cooperativity. Within the frames of the proposed model the experimental results on stretching of a double-stranded DNA of λ-phage are interpreted. Possible scenarios of homo- and heteropolymeric behavior of DNA during condensation are analyzed. A possible mechanism restricting the growth of linear size of DNA is proposed.