Deformation of Kinetoplast DNA in Microfluidic Racetracks

The discovery of graphene opened the door to studying many types of two-dimensional crystalline materials, but two-dimensional soft materials have also garnered interest. To find a suitable model for soft two-dimensional polymers, we have studied the properties of kinetoplast DNA (kDNA). Found in the mitochondria of the trypanosome parasite, kDNA are comprised of topologically interconnected small loops of DNA which create an effectively two-dimensional catenated network. In this work we examine the flow-induced deformation in kinetoplast as they translate through a microfluidic racetrack. Pressure-driven flow induces shear forces on the molecules, whereas electrophoretic flow may deform the molecule in regions of non-uniform electric field. We examined the anisotropy of the kDNA as it flowed thought the micro channels under flow and electrophoresiss. We discuss results relating the flow-induced deformation to the size and speed of the translating networks.