Nonlinear excitations in a disordered alpha-helical protein chain

• Published in: Physica A Vol. 407; pp. 76 - 85
• Main Authors: Saravana Veni, S., Latha, M.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-08-2014
• Subjects: Inhomogeneity; Iterative algorithms; Mathematical analysis; Nonlinear dynamics; Nonlinear Schrödinger equation; Nonlinearity; Proteins; Schroedinger equation; Soliton; Solitons; Soliton; Nonlinear Schrödinger equation
• ISSN: 0378-4371; 1873-2119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physa.2014.03.087

We investigate the dynamics of alpha-helical proteins with dipole and quadrupole type molecular excitations. Performing the symbolic computation on the iterative algorithm of Darboux transformation, we present the multisoliton solutions for the resulting fourth order nonlinear Schrödinger (NLS) equation and study the energy sharing properties. We also study the effect of disorder (inhomogeneity) using the perturbative technique and found that the inhomogeneity in the hydrogen bonding spines introduces fluctuations in the profile of the solitons without affecting their robust nature and the propagation.
•The multisoliton interaction in alpha-helical proteins is studied.•The effect of disorder is investigated using a perturbative technique.•Inhomogeneity introduces fluctuations in the profile of the solitons.•Modulation instability occurrence and the stability of soliton is also investigated.