Transport properties of rigid bent-rod macromolecules and of semiflexible broken rods in the rigid-body treatment. Analysis of the flexibility of myosin rod.

The translational diffusion coefficients, rotational relaxation times and intrinsic viscosities of rigid bent rods, composed by two rodlike arms joined rigidly at an angle alpha, have been evaluated for varying conformation using the latest advances in hydrodynamic theory. We have considered semiflexible rods in which the joint is an elastic hinge or swivel, with a potential V(alpha) = 1/2Q alpha 2 with constant Q. Accepting the rigid-body treatment, we calculate properties of broken rods by averaging alpha-dependent values for rigid rods. The results are finally used to interpret literature values of the properties of myosin rod. Q is regarded as an adjustable parameter, and the value fitted is such that the average bending angle of myosin rod is approximately 60 degrees.