Nonlinear charge transport mechanism in periodic and disordered DNA

We study a model for polaron-like charge transport mechanism along DNA molecules with emphasis on the impact of parametrical and structural disorder. Our model Hamiltonian takes into account the coupling of the charge carrier to two different kinds of modes representing fluctuating twist motions of the base pairs and H-bond distortions within the double helix structure of X-DNA. Localized stationary states are constructed with the help of a nonlinear map approach for a periodic double helix and in the presence of intrinsic static parametrical and/or structural disorder reflecting the impact of ambient solvent coordinates. It is demonstrated that charge transport is mediated by moving polarons and breather compounds carrying not only the charge but also causing local temporal deformations of the helix structure through the traveling torsion and bond breather components illustrating the interplay of structure and function in biomolecules. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.